Pooja sets national record 1.93m, wins gold at Asian U20 Athletics Championships
Synopsis
A teenage high jumper just rewrote Indian athletics history twice in the same competition. Pooja cleared 1.93m in Hong Kong to win gold at the Asian U20 Championships, breaking both the Under-20 national record and a 14-year-old senior mark held by Sahana Kumari — and qualifying for the 2026 Commonwealth Games in the process.
Key Takeaways
Pooja won gold at the 22nd Asian U20 Athletics Championships in Hong Kong on 30 May 2026 with a clearance of 1.93 metres .
The jump set a new senior national record , surpassing Sahana Kumari's 1.92m mark that had stood since 2012 .
Pooja also broke the championship record of 1.90m set by Uzbekistan's Svetlana Radzivil in 2006 .
She first cleared 1.91m to improve her own U20 national record before scaling 1.93m in the same competition.
The performance secured the qualification standard for the 2026 Commonwealth Games .
Union Minister Raksha Khadse hailed her on social media, calling her 'India's all-time No.
1 women's high jumper.'
High jump sensation Pooja etched her name into Indian athletics history on 30 May 2026, claiming gold at the 22nd Asian U20 Athletics Championships in Hong Kong with a clearance of 1.93 metres — a new senior national record that ended a 14-year-old benchmark held by Sahana Kumari since 2012. The performance also surpassed the championship record of 1.90m set by Uzbekistan's Svetlana Radzivil in 2006.
The Historic Leap
Pooja's gold-medal run unfolded in two remarkable stages. She first cleared 1.91 metres to improve her own Under-20 national record, then scaled 1.93 metres to simultaneously claim the senior women's national record — the highest height ever cleared by an Indian woman in the high jump. The performance also secured the qualification standard for the 2026 Commonwealth Games.
What the Government Said
Union Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports Raksha Khadse congratulated Pooja in a post on social media, calling the achievement a historic moment for Indian athletics. 'India is proud of you, Pooja. Your flight will continue to inspire generations to come to reach new heights,' Khadse wrote.
The minister described the jump as 'not just a gold medal, but a flight of dreams, dedication, and tireless hard work,' adding that the feat 'sends a message to millions of young athletes across the country that when goals are set high and resolve remains unwavering, no height is impossible.'
India's Campaign at Hong Kong
A total of 48 Indian athletes — 30 men and 18 women — are representing the country at the championships, which run from 28 to 31 May in Hong Kong. The contingent is also targeting qualification berths for the World U20 Athletics Championships 2026, scheduled at Hayward Field from 5 to 9 August.
Why It Matters
Pooja's clearance makes her India's all-time No. 1 women's high jumper, displacing Sahana Kumari whose 1.92m mark had stood unchallenged for over a decade. Notably, this achievement arrives in the Under-20 category, signalling a generational shift in Indian field athletics. This comes amid growing momentum in Indian track and field on the continental stage, and the 2026 Commonwealth Games qualification adds immediate competitive significance to the record.
Point of View
A period during which peers across Asia moved on. That a teenager shattered it in an Under-20 championship, while simultaneously qualifying for the Commonwealth Games, signals a depth in the pipeline that Indian athletics has historically struggled to demonstrate. The real test will be whether the system sustains her trajectory or treats this as a one-cycle headline.
NationPress
5 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What record did Pooja set at the Asian U20 Athletics Championships 2026?
Pooja cleared 1.93 metres to win gold at the 22nd Asian U20 Athletics Championships in Hong Kong, setting a new Indian senior women's high jump national record. The jump surpassed Sahana Kumari's previous mark of 1.92m, which had stood since 2012.
Where and when is the 22nd Asian U20 Athletics Championships being held?
The 22nd Asian U20 Athletics Championships 2026 is being held in Hong Kong from 28 to 31 May. India has sent a contingent of 48 athletes — 30 men and 18 women — to the event.
How did Pooja break two national records in the same competition?
Pooja first cleared 1.91 metres to improve her own Under-20 national record, then went on to clear 1.93 metres in the same competition to claim the senior women's national record as well.
Did Pooja qualify for the 2026 Commonwealth Games?
Yes, Pooja's 1.93m clearance met the qualification standard for the 2026 Commonwealth Games, making the Hong Kong gold doubly significant for her international career.
Who is Sahana Kumari and why is her record significant?
Sahana Kumari is an Indian high jumper who held the senior women's national record of 1.92 metres since 2012 — a mark that stood for 14 years before Pooja surpassed it at the Asian U20 Championships in Hong Kong.
