Pooja breaks national high jump record with 1.93m gold at Asian U20 Athletics
Synopsis
Pooja didn't just win gold at the Asian U20 Athletics Championships in Hong Kong — she erased a 13-year-old national record and a 19-year-old continental meet record in a single jump. At 1.93m, her performance signals a genuine generational leap for Indian women's high jump, backed by a five-gold haul for India across Day 1 and Day 2.
Key Takeaways
Pooja cleared 1.93m to win gold at the 22nd Asian U20 Athletics Championships in Hong Kong on 29 May , breaking the national record of 1.92m set by Sahana Kumari in 2012 .
Her jump also surpassed the Asian U20 meet record of 1.90m set by Svetlana Radzivil of Uzbekistan in 2006 .
Race walker Nitin Gupta won gold in the men's 5000m race walk in 19:47.49 ; Amanat Kamboj won gold in women's discus throw with 52.24m ; Rahul Jakhar won gold in men's decathlon with 7185 points .
Sprinter Nipam , 18, from Uttar Pradesh won bronze in the women's 100m on Day 1 with a time of 11.62 seconds .
India also claimed silver through Sadhana Ravi (women's triple jump, 12.84m ), Upkar (men's decathlon, 6854 points ), and bronze through Neeru Pathak (women's 400m, 53.93 secs ).
Indian high jumper Pooja shattered a decade-old national record on Day 2 of the 22nd Asian U20 Athletics Championships in Hong Kong on Friday, 29 May, clearing 1.93m to claim gold and rewrite the history books. Her leap surpassed the previous national mark of 1.92m set by Sahana Kumari in 2012, and also eclipsed the Asian U20 meet record of 1.90m held by Svetlana Radzivil of Uzbekistan since 2006.
India's Golden Haul on Day 2
Race walker Nitin Gupta opened the gold rush, winning the men's 5000m race walk in 19:47.49 seconds. While the time was short of his own Asian U20 record of 18:47.37, it was enough for the top podium spot. Fellow Indian Tushar Panwar finished sixth in the same event, clocking 20:55.41.
Discus thrower Amanat Kamboj added a third gold with a best throw of 52.24m in the women's discus throw. Rahul Jakhar then claimed the fourth gold of the day in the men's decathlon with 7185 points, while compatriot Upkar took silver with 6854 points.
Silver and Bronze Performances
In the women's triple jump, Sadhana Ravi secured silver with a distance of 12.84m. Neeru Pathak claimed bronze in the women's 400m, finishing third in 53.93 seconds. India's Tahura Khatun was fourth in the same event, also clocking 53.93 seconds — a personal best for her.
In other events, Royshan P finished eighth in the men's triple jump with 14.87m, and Mansi Avinash Yadav placed fourth in the women's 3,000m steeplechase in 10:45.34 seconds.
Nipam's Bronze on Opening Day
On the opening day, Thursday, 18-year-old sprinter Nipam from Uttar Pradesh won bronze in the women's 100m, clocking 11.62 seconds despite a slow start. The national U20 record holder — her personal best stands at 11.53 seconds, set in a domestic meet in April — expressed delight after the race. 'I'm excited to have won a bronze medal for the team,' Nipam said.
Qatar's Dana Noor Salem, aged 16, won gold in 11.47 seconds, while China's Xinxuan Chen, also 16, took silver in 11.54 seconds. Nipam, who is also part of India's national 4x100m relay team, expressed confidence of adding to her medal count in the four-day championships.
India's Broader Medal Momentum
India's performance across the first two days reflects a strong pipeline of U20 talent in field events and race walking. Notably, Pooja's double record — national and continental meet — signals a generational shift in Indian women's high jump, an event where the national benchmark had stood untouched for 13 years. With the championships still ongoing, India's medal tally is expected to grow further.
Point of View
National and continental, in a single competition. The previous national mark had survived for 13 years, which speaks to how significant this jump is. But the broader picture is equally telling: India's Day 2 haul of four golds in field events and race walking suggests depth, not just individual brilliance. The question now is whether the Athletics Federation of India can convert this U20 pipeline into senior-level consistency, an area where India has historically struggled to bridge the gap.
NationPress
12 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What national record did Pooja break at the Asian U20 Athletics Championships?
Pooja cleared 1.93m to win gold in the women's high jump, breaking the national record of 1.92m that had stood since 2012 when Sahana Kumari set it. She also surpassed the Asian U20 meet record of 1.90m, set by Svetlana Radzivil of Uzbekistan in 2006.
Where and when is the 22nd Asian U20 Athletics Championships being held?
The 22nd Asian U20 Athletics Championships is being held in Hong Kong across four days, with Day 2 taking place on Friday, 29 May.
How did India perform overall on Day 2 of the Asian U20 Athletics Championships?
India won four gold medals on Day 2 — through Pooja (high jump), Nitin Gupta (men's 5000m race walk), Amanat Kamboj (women's discus throw), and Rahul Jakhar (men's decathlon). India also added silver and bronze medals through Sadhana Ravi, Upkar, and Neeru Pathak.
Who is Nipam and what did she achieve at the championships?
Nipam is an 18-year-old sprinter from Uttar Pradesh and the national U20 record holder in the women's 100m. She won a bronze medal on Day 1, clocking 11.62 seconds despite a slow start. Her personal best and national U20 record is 11.53 seconds, set in April.
Did Nitin Gupta break his Asian U20 record in the 5000m race walk?
No. Nitin Gupta won gold in the men's 5000m race walk with a time of 19:47.49 seconds, but fell short of his own Asian U20 record of 18:47.37. Fellow Indian Tushar Panwar finished sixth in the same event with a time of 20:55.41.
