CM Majhi Hails Pooja Singh's Asian Games Bronze in High Jump
Synopsis
Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi congratulated Pooja Singh on winning the Bronze Medal in Women's High Jump at Asian Games 2026, hailing her achievement as historic after a 24-year wait for an Indian medal in the discipline.
Key Takeaways
Pooja Singh won the Bronze Medal in Women's High Jump at the Asian Games 2026 .
The medal ends a 24-year drought for India in this event at the Asian Games.
Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi publicly congratulated Singh on September 30, 2026 .
Majhi framed the achievement under the #NariShakti banner, highlighting women's sporting excellence.
State-level recognition or formal awards for the athlete are yet to be announced.
Twenty-four years is a long time to wait for a high jump medal at the Asian Games — and on Wednesday, September 30, 2026, that wait ended. Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi took to X to congratulate Pooja Singh on claiming a Bronze Medal in the Women's High Jump at the Asian Games 2026, calling her feat a historic achievement that 'has opened a new chapter for Indian high jump.'
A 24-Year Drought, Broken
The significance of the number is staggering: India had gone without an Asian Games medal in women's high jump for 24 years before Pooja Singh cleared the bar in 2026. That kind of drought spans entire athletic careers — coaches, federations, and generations of jumpers who came close but couldn't convert. Singh's bronze does not just add a medal to the tally; it resets the narrative around a discipline that Indian athletics had quietly stopped expecting results from.
CM Majhi and the 'Nari Shakti' Frame
Chief Minister Majhi, who took office in June 2024, used the hashtag #NariShakti — a phrase that translates broadly as 'the power of women' — alongside his congratulatory post. The choice is deliberate. State chief ministers across India have increasingly used high-profile women's sporting victories to amplify national messaging around female participation in competitive athletics, and Majhi's post fits squarely into that pattern. The framing elevates Singh's individual achievement into a broader statement about where Indian women's sport is heading.
What Pooja Singh's Medal Means for Indian Athletics
A bronze at the Asian Games in a track-and-field discipline is no ceremonial consolation — it signals that an athlete is competing at the continent's elite level. For Indian high jump, a medal at this stage could unlock greater institutional attention: better coaching infrastructure, dedicated selection pathways, and the kind of funding that tends to follow visible success. Whether Pooja Singh receives formal state-level recognition from Odisha or a national cash award from the Sports Authority of India will be worth watching in the days ahead.
One bronze, one barrier cleared, one sport quietly transformed. Indian athletics will be watching what Pooja Singh does next.
Point of View
He aligns Odisha's leadership with a national BJP narrative that frames women's athletic success as proof of broader social progress. The 24-year gap framing is also strategically useful — it makes the achievement feel transformational rather than incremental, amplifying the political dividend. For Indian athletics administrators, the moment is an opportunity to convert a single medal into sustained institutional investment, though history suggests that window closes quickly without deliberate follow-through.
NationPress
30 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Pooja Singh and what did she win at Asian Games 2026?
Pooja Singh is an Indian athlete who won the Bronze Medal in the Women's High Jump event at the Asian Games 2026, ending a 24-year wait for India in this discipline.
Why is Pooja Singh's Asian Games medal called historic?
Her bronze is described as historic because India had not won an Asian Games medal in women's high jump for 24 years before her achievement in 2026.
What did Odisha CM Mohan Majhi say about Pooja Singh?
CM Majhi posted on X calling her win a 'historic achievement after a 24-year wait' that 'has opened a new chapter for Indian high jump,' congratulating her warmly.
What is Nari Shakti and why did CM Majhi use that hashtag?
'Nari Shakti' means 'the power of women' in Hindi. CM Majhi used the hashtag to frame Pooja Singh's medal as part of a broader celebration of women's achievement and participation in competitive sports.
When did Mohan Charan Majhi become Chief Minister of Odisha?
Mohan Charan Majhi became Chief Minister of Odisha in June 2024 after the BJP's victory in the state assembly elections.
