Asian Games 2026: Pooja claims high jump bronze, India's first in 24 years
Synopsis
For the first time in 24 years, India is back on the Asian Games podium in women's high jump. Nineteen-year-old Pooja — who broke a 14-year national record earlier in 2026 — cleared 1.84m in Aichi-Nagoya to claim bronze, capping a remarkable breakthrough year and reigniting hope for a new generation of Indian high jumpers.
Key Takeaways
Pooja won bronze in women's high jump at the Asian Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya on 29 September 2026 .
It is India's first women's high jump medal at the Asian Games in 24 years , since Bobby Aloysius won silver in 2002 .
Pooja cleared 1.84m but could not negotiate 1.87m in three attempts; Sayfullaeva (Uzbekistan) took gold with 1.90m .
Sarvesh Kushare claimed silver in men's high jump with 2.25m , separated from gold medallist Chao Hsuan-Fu of Chinese Taipei on countback.
Pooja had broken Sahana Kumari's 14-year national record with a 1.93m clearance earlier in 2026 at the Asian Under-20 Athletics Championships.
India's national record-holder Pooja clinched the bronze medal in the women's high jump at the Asian Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, on Tuesday, 29 September 2026, ending a 24-year wait for an Indian medal in the event. The result adds fresh momentum to India's athletics campaign at the Games, with Sarvesh Kushare and Parul Chaudhary having already contributed a silver and bronze, respectively, to the haul.
How the Women's High Jump Final Unfolded
Pooja, 19 years old, cleared a personal best of 1.84m to hold the lead for a significant stretch of the final. She was unable, however, to negotiate 1.87m in three attempts, which ultimately cost her a shot at a higher finish. Uzbekistan's Sayfullaeva took gold with a personal best of 1.90m, while Kazakhstan's Kristina Ovchinnikova claimed silver after clearing 1.87m.
Historic Significance for Indian Athletics
Pooja's bronze is India's first women's high jump medal at the Asian Games since 2002, when Bobby Aloysius won silver. The 24-year gap underlines how rare podium finishes have been for India in this discipline at the continental level. Notably, Pooja had already announced herself earlier in 2026 by breaking Sahana Kumari's 14-year-old national record with a 1.93m clearance at the Asian Under-20 Athletics Championships — a mark that firmly established her as the country's top prospect in the event.
Kushare's Silver in Men's High Jump
A day earlier, on Monday, Sarvesh Kushare secured silver in the men's high jump with a best clearance of 2.25m. The gold went to Chao Hsuan-Fu of Chinese Taipei, who also cleared 2.25m but did so in his first attempt, edging Kushare — who required two attempts at that height — by the countback rule. South Korea's Sanghyeok Woo took bronze with 2.22m.
Kushare had been in commanding form throughout the competition, clearing 2.10m, 2.14m, 2.18m, and 2.22m all on first attempt before the contest tightened at 2.25m. When the bar moved to 2.28m, both Kushare and Chao failed to clear in three tries each, leaving the countback to separate them.
India's Growing Athletics Medal Tally
The back-to-back high jump medals, combined with Parul Chaudhary's bronze, reflect a broader upward curve in Indian track-and-field performances at the Asian Games. This comes amid sustained investment in the National Centre of Excellence programmes and stronger international exposure for young athletes. With events still remaining on the schedule, India's final athletics tally could improve further before the Games conclude.
Point of View
Dormant at the Asian Games podium for nearly a quarter century, may be entering a new competitive era. A 19-year-old who has already shattered a 14-year national record is not a one-off; she is a developmental arc. The countback loss that cost Kushare gold also deserves scrutiny: India's jumping programme is producing athletes who can match the best in Asia at peak height, but execution discipline — clearing big barriers on the first attempt — remains the marginal gap between silver and gold. That is a coaching and competition-exposure problem, and one that is solvable.
NationPress
29 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Pooja and why is her bronze medal historic?
Pooja is India's national record-holder in women's high jump, who at 19 cleared 1.84m to win bronze at the Asian Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya. The medal is India's first in the women's high jump at the Asian Games since Bobby Aloysius won silver in 2002 — a gap of 24 years.
What height did Pooja clear to win the bronze medal?
Pooja cleared 1.84m to finish third in the women's high jump final. She attempted 1.87m three times but could not clear it, which placed her behind gold medallist Sayfullaeva of Uzbekistan (1.90m) and silver medallist Kristina Ovchinnikova of Kazakhstan (1.87m).
How did Sarvesh Kushare win silver in men's high jump?
Sarvesh Kushare cleared 2.25m at the Asian Games 2026, matching gold medallist Chao Hsuan-Fu of Chinese Taipei. Chao was awarded gold because he cleared that height on his first attempt, while Kushare needed two. Neither athlete could clear 2.28m.
What is Pooja's national record in high jump?
Pooja set India's national record with a 1.93m clearance at the Asian Under-20 Athletics Championships in 2026, breaking Sahana Kumari's 14-year-old mark. That record-breaking performance preceded her Asian Games bronze.
How has India performed in athletics at the Asian Games 2026?
India added multiple medals in athletics at the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, with Sarvesh Kushare winning silver and both Pooja and Parul Chaudhary claiming bronze medals. The results reflect an improving trend in Indian track-and-field at the continental level.
