Background
Pooja Singh comes from Bosti village in Haryana and grew up in a farming family. Her early training took place in modest conditions, with limited equipment and makeshift landing surfaces. Her coach, Balwan Singh Patra, identified her athletic potential and helped her begin specialising in high jump.
The Night the 14-Year-Old Record Fell
On 29 May 2026, Pooja Singh high jump became the headline performance of the Asian U20 Athletics Championships in Hong Kong. Competing in the women's high jump, the 19-year-old cleared 1.93m to win gold and rewrite India's senior national record. The mark ended a 14-year wait for a new record in the event.
Current Season
The 2026 season produced a breakthrough 1.90m clearance at the Indian Athletics Series in New Delhi in April. She then cleared 1.93m at the Asian U20 Championships in Hong Kong, winning gold and breaking the senior national record. The performance also set a championship record and established her as India’s leading women’s high jumper. She is now preparing for the women’s high jump at the Asian Games in September.
In their own words
“I had no choice. I had to use torn spikes that were somehow kind of bandaged together.” — Pooja Singh, speaking to NNIS Sports, May 2025, after winning gold at the Asian Athletics Championships with a lifetime-best clearance of 1.89m. The performance also broke the U20 national record and made her India’s youngest-ever Asian champion.
