Indian track and field athletes achieved a flawless victory on the opening day of the New Taipei City Athletics Open 2026 in Taiwan on Saturday, 6 June 2026. Long jumper Shaili Singh clinched a gold medal with a 6.24-metre leap, while the women’s 4x100m relay team comprising SS Sneha, Srabani Nanda, Sudeshna Shivankar, and Tamanna also struck gold by equalling the meet record at 44.07 seconds.
Additionally, national hurdles record holder Tejas Shirse secured a silver medal in a dramatic 110m hurdles photo finish. All three Indian entries finished on the podium, establishing a strong presence at this World Athletics Continental Tour Silver event. National coaches and sporting bodies have expressed immense satisfaction with this performance, viewing it as a vital stepping stone for upcoming continental championships, while regional host fans celebrated a thrilling, razor-thin victory in the hurdles.
Shaili Singh Grinds Out Long Jump Gold
While long jumper Shaili Singh was not operating at her absolute peak distance, the 21-year-old demonstrated the critical hallmark of an elite competitor: finding a way to win when not at her best. Shaili clinched the gold medal with a best effort of 6.24 metres. Striking early, her winning mark came in the second round of the competition, and none of her international competitors were able to surpass it.Despite a couple of late-stage fouls, Shaili put together a highly consistent series that kept her firmly at the top of the leaderboard.
Her full round series registered at 6.03m, 6.24m, 6.23m, followed by two fouls, and a final jump of 6.10m. The gold medal marks another significant international milestone for the young athlete, who is coached by legendary Olympic medalist Anju Bobby George. Though the 6.24m distance is short of her 6.58m silver-winning performance at the Federation Cup last month, or her personal best of 6.76m set in 2023, the victory provides a massive confidence boost as the international sporting calendar begins to gather momentum.
Women’s 4x100m Relay Team Equals Meet Record
On the track, the Indian women’s 4x100m relay quartet produced a masterclass in sprinting and baton exchange. The team blazed across the finish line to capture gold in an impressive 44.07 seconds.
The commanding performance did more than just secure the top spot on the podium; it officially equalled the tournament’s standing meet record, which was remarkably set by the Indian contingent itself during the 2025 edition of the same tournament. The Indian quartet displayed exceptional chemistry and technical execution, leaving their closest competitors, Vietnam, trailing behind by a comfortable margin of 0.31 seconds to take the second spot.
Tejas Shirse Secures Silver in 110m Hurdles Photo Finish
The men’s 110m hurdles final delivered the most dramatic moment of the opening day. India’s premier sprint hurdler, Tejas Shirse, missed out on the gold medal by the narrowest literal margin in athletics: a mere 0.01 seconds.Shirse clocked a swift 13.58 seconds, pushing himself to the absolute limit.However, Chinese Taipei’s 20-year-old home favourite, Hsieh Yuan-kai, produced an extraordinary late surge to edge out the Indian champion, taking the gold medal at 13.57 seconds.
Despite just missing the gold, the silver medal marks an excellent international outing for the 23-year-old hurdler. Shirse, who holds the Indian national record at 13.41 seconds, has spent the early part of the year recovering from a four-month injury layoff. His performance in New Taipei City proves he has successfully recaptured his rhythm and remains one of the most formidable sprint hurdles prospects in Asia.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
At The Logical Indian, we believe that sports possess a unique, transformative power to build bridges, foster mutual respect, and unite diverse cultures in a spirit of peaceful coexistence. The brilliant performances by Shaili Singh, Tejas Shirse, and the women’s relay team are not merely victories on a leaderboard; they represent the rewards of deep empathy, resilience, and dedicated collaboration.
Witnessing athletes from different nations push each other to their absolute limits such as the breathtaking 0.01-second hurdles finish reminds us that true progress is achieved through healthy, harmonious excellence rather than conflict. These young icons serve as a powerful inspiration for our community, proving that dedication and unity can overcome any obstacle, whether on the track or in our daily lives.
RECORD ALERT 🚨 Shaili Singh with an effort of 5.94m, A NEW #National RECORD, wins gold medal in girls U16 category at 34th National Jr. Athletics Championships 2018. Congrats Shaili & her coach Bobby George. @Media_SAI @IndiaSports @anjubobbygeorg1 @kaypeem @nitinarya99 pic.twitter.com/Wa1j9shrs9
— Athletics Federation of India (@afiindia) November 2, 2018
