India’s national high jump record holder, Sarvesh Kushare, produced a memorable performance on his Diamond League debut, finishing third at the Monaco Diamond League 2026 with a best clearance of 2.26m.
Competing against some of the world’s finest high jumpers, Sarvesh delivered a flawless series through 2.12m, 2.16m, 2.20m, 2.23m, and 2.26m, clearing every height on his first attempt. At one stage of the competition, only Sarvesh and eventual champion Oleh Doroshchuk had maintained a perfect record through 2.26m.
Sarvesh then made three strong attempts at 2.28m but was unable to clear the height, bringing an end to an outstanding debut on the prestigious Diamond League circuit.
Ukraine’s Oleh Doroshchuk claimed the men’s high jump title with a clearance of 2.32m, while Great Britain’s Jack Kimani finished second with 2.30m. Sarvesh secured third place with 2.26m, marking one of the best international performances of his career.
Men’s High Jump Results – Monaco Diamond League 2026
1. Oleh Doroshchuk (Ukraine) – 2.32m
2. Jack Kimani (Great Britain) – 2.30m
3. Sarvesh Kushare (India) – 2.26m
Sarvesh entered the competition in outstanding form, having broken the Indian national high jump record with a clearance of 2.31m in his previous meet. He has already been selected to represent India at the 2026 Commonwealth Games and is also expected to feature at the 2026 Asian Games, with the athletics squad yet to be officially announced.
India’s Pooja will be one of the country’s brightest young medal hopes in the women’s high jump at the Commonwealth Games 2026, following a breakthrough season that has established her among the leading jumpers in the Commonwealth.
The 19-year-old has enjoyed a remarkable 2026 campaign, consistently raising the bar with a series of career-best performances. Her season-best clearance of 1.93m currently ranks seventh among Commonwealth athletes this year, placing her in contention in one of the strongest women’s high jump fields assembled for the Games.
Pooja’s rise has been one of the standout stories of Indian athletics this season. She registered two lifetime bests, broke the Indian U20 national record twice, and surpassed the senior national record mark with her clearance of 1.93m. The rapid progression has highlighted both her immense talent and her ability to perform under pressure against top-class competition.
The Commonwealth season rankings are headed by Australia’s Eleanor Patterson, who has cleared 2.00m, followed closely by compatriot Nicola Olyslagers at 1.99m. Nigeria’s Temitope Simbiat Adeshina occupies third with 1.97m, while Lamara Distin of Jamaica and Rose Yeboah of Ghana have both recorded 1.96m. Australia’s Izobelle Louison-Roe follows with 1.95m, before Pooja rounds out the top seven at 1.93m.
Although she will be competing against several world-class athletes, Pooja has shown throughout the season that she is capable of rising to the occasion. Her consistent improvement and fearless approach have made her one of India’s most exciting field-event prospects heading into Glasgow.
With a season-best that ranks among the Commonwealth’s elite and a breakthrough campaign already behind her, Pooja enters the Games with growing confidence. If she can reproduce her best form on the biggest stage, the young Indian high jumper has every opportunity to challenge for a place on the podium and continue her remarkable rise in international athletics.
India heads into the Commonwealth Games 2026 with strong medal aspirations in the men’s high jump, where Sarvesh Kushare and Aadarsh Ram will represent the country in a highly competitive field.
Leading India’s challenge is Sarvesh Kushare, who has enjoyed an outstanding 2026 season. His season-best clearance of 2.31m places him joint-first among all Commonwealth athletes this year, alongside Australia’s Kimani Jack. The mark underlines Sarvesh’s consistency and positions him as one of the leading contenders for the podium in Glasgow.
Joining him is Aadarsh Ram, who has also impressed this season with a best clearance of 2.27m. His performance ranks sixth among Commonwealth athletes, putting him firmly in the mix in what promises to be one of the closest high jump competitions of the Games.
The season rankings reflect the depth of talent expected in Glasgow. Australia’s Kimani Jack shares the top spot with Sarvesh at 2.31m, while Jamaica’s Romaine Beckford has cleared 2.30m. Olympic champion Hamish Kerr of New Zealand and Australia’s Yual Reath have both recorded 2.28m, with Aadarsh completing the top six at 2.27m.
Notably, all six athletes on the season list have been selected by their respective countries for the Commonwealth Games, ensuring that the event will feature every leading performer from the 2026 season.
For India, the combination of Sarvesh’s joint-leading mark and Aadarsh’s consistent performances provides genuine optimism. Sarvesh enters the competition as one of the favourites after matching the best clearance among Commonwealth athletes this season, while Aadarsh has shown that he possesses the ability to challenge the strongest field of his career.
With two athletes ranked among the Commonwealth’s top six and both arriving in Glasgow in excellent form, India has every reason to believe it can contend for medals in the men’s high jump at the 2026 Commonwealth Games.
For more visit Commonwealth Games 2026
Asian champion Pooja continued her impressive run of form by winning the women’s high jump title at the 65th National Inter-State Senior Athletics Championships 2026, clearing 1.83m to secure the gold medal and achieve the Asian Games qualification standard.
Competing against the country’s top high jumpers, Pooja produced a composed and confident performance throughout the competition. Her successful clearance at 1.83m proved enough to clinch the Interstate title while also booking her place for the upcoming Asian Games.
Having secured victory and the qualification mark, Pooja raised the bar to 1.90m in pursuit of an even bigger achievement. The talented youngster made three determined attempts at the height but was unable to clear it on this occasion. Despite falling short of 1.90m, her performance at 1.83m stood out as another significant milestone in an already outstanding season.
The victory further strengthens Pooja’s growing reputation as one of India’s brightest young field-event athletes. Already an Asian champion, she has consistently demonstrated the ability to perform on major stages, and her latest success at the country’s premier domestic championships reinforces her status among the nation’s elite high jumpers.
The Interstate Championships have once again provided athletes with an opportunity to secure qualification standards ahead of major international events, and Pooja made the most of the occasion with a championship-winning display. Her consistency, technical execution, and composure under pressure were evident throughout the competition.
With the Asian Games qualification now secured, Pooja is set for an exciting international season. She is scheduled to represent India at the World U20 Championships, the Commonwealth Games 2026, and the Asian Games 2026, making this one of the busiest and most significant years of her young career.
Winning the Interstate title while qualifying for the Asian Games is another major achievement for Pooja, and her continued progress suggests she will be one of India’s key athletes to watch on the international stage in the months ahead.
Eighteen-year-old Shahnavaz continued his remarkable rise in Indian athletics with a sensational performance at the 65th National Inter-State Senior Athletics Championships 2026, producing a lifetime-best jump of 8.30m to shatter the Indian U20 national record and secure qualification for the upcoming Asian Games.
Competing against some of the country’s finest long jumpers, the youngster delivered the performance of his career when it mattered most. His impressive leap not only earned him the Asian Games qualification standard but also established a new benchmark in Indian U20 athletics.
The 8.30m effort stands as India’s all-time best performance in the U20 category, underlining the extraordinary nature of his achievement. On the continental stage, the mark ranks as the second-best U20 performance in Asian history, while globally it is the seventh-best U20 mark of all time. These statistics place Shahnavaz among the most promising young long jumpers in the world.
The record-breaking jump also represented a new lifetime best, further highlighting the rapid progress the 18-year-old has made over the course of the season. Shahnavaz has been in exceptional form throughout the year, consistently improving his performances and registering multiple personal bests across competitions.
His latest achievement at the Interstate Championships confirms his emergence as one of India’s brightest young athletics prospects. Delivering such a high-quality performance on one of the country’s biggest domestic stages reflects both his talent and his ability to compete under pressure.
The Interstate Championships have produced several memorable performances this season, but Shahnavaz’s record-breaking leap stands among the most significant. By rewriting the Indian U20 record and comfortably surpassing the Asian Games qualification standard, he has announced himself as a serious contender for future international success.
With youth on his side and confidence soaring after this historic performance, Shahnavaz has taken a major step forward in his career. His outstanding 8.30m jump is not only a milestone for Indian athletics but also a glimpse of an exciting future for one of the nation’s most promising young stars.
Murali Sreeshankar announced his return in spectacular fashion at the 65th National Inter-State Senior Athletics Championships 2026, producing a sensational 8.38m leap to win the men’s long jump title and secure qualification for the upcoming Asian Games.
Competing at one of India’s most important domestic meets, Sreeshankar delivered when it mattered most. His winning jump of 8.38m not only earned him the national title but also reaffirmed his place among the country’s greatest long jumpers. The effort stands as India’s third-best long jump of all time and ranks as the second-best jump of his career, highlighting the significance of his performance.
The mark also carries major international importance. Sreeshankar’s 8.38m leap is currently the best performance in Asia this season and the ninth-best mark in the world this season, placing him among the leading long jumpers on the global stage. Just as importantly, the jump comfortably surpassed the Asian Games qualification standard, ensuring his place among India’s top contenders for the continental event.
The performance marks a memorable comeback for the accomplished long jumper, who once again demonstrated his ability to deliver under pressure. Producing one of the finest jumps of his career at a crucial stage of the season reflects both his consistency and competitive temperament.
The Interstate Championships have witnessed several outstanding performances this year, but Sreeshankar’s 8.38m effort undoubtedly ranks among the highlights of the competition. Beyond securing the national title, the jump reinforces India’s growing stature in the horizontal jumps and provides a significant boost ahead of the Asian Games.
With the Asian Games approaching, Sreeshankar’s return to top form could not have come at a better time. By producing the best jump in Asia this season and one of the world’s leading performances, he has sent a clear message that he is once again ready to challenge at the highest level.
It was a comeback worthy of one of India’s finest long jumpers, and a performance that has reignited excitement ahead of the international season.
Indian high jump has a new record holder.
Sarvesh Kushare produced the performance of his career at the 65th National Inter-State Senior Athletics Championships, clearing 2.31 metres on his third attempt to set a new Indian national record in the men’s high jump.
The Maharashtra athlete eclipsed the previous national record of 2.29m, held by Tejaswin Shankar, by two centimetres, marking one of the biggest breakthroughs in Indian track and field this season.
The record-breaking clearance was even more remarkable considering Kushare’s previous personal best stood at 2.28m. Faced with the bar at 2.31m after successfully negotiating the earlier heights, he rose to the occasion, producing a flawless clearance on his final attempt to etch his name into the record books.
The moment sparked jubilant celebrations as Kushare realised he had become the highest-ever jumper in Indian athletics history.
The achievement is the culmination of years of steady progress for the 30-year-old, who has represented India at the Commonwealth Games, Asian Games and World Championships. Long regarded as one of the country’s most consistent high jumpers, Kushare had repeatedly come close to rewriting the national record before finally breaking through in spectacular fashion.
The previous mark of 2.29m, set by Tejaswin Shankar, had stood as the benchmark for Indian high jumping. Kushare has now taken the event to a new level, becoming the first Indian to clear 2.30 metres and beyond in competition.
The timing of the performance could hardly have been better. With the Commonwealth Games and Asian Games fast approaching, the new national record sends a strong message that Indian high jumping is entering a new phase, with Kushare carrying outstanding form into the biggest competitions of the year.
Beyond the record itself, the performance is another encouraging sign for Indian athletics, which has witnessed a series of national records and Asian Games qualification marks during the Inter-State Championships.
On a memorable evening in Bhubaneswar, however, one performance stood above the rest.
2.31 metres.
A new national record.
A new benchmark for Indian high jump.
And a historic leap by Sarvesh Kushare.
Karnataka’s Sindhushree G produced a career-defining performance at the 65th National Inter-State Senior Athletics Championships 2026, rewriting the women’s pole vault national record with a sensational clearance of 4.25m.
The 25-year-old athlete delivered the standout performance during the competition, surpassing her previous personal best of 4.00m by an impressive 25 centimeters. The mark not only established a new national record but also secured her qualification for the upcoming Asian Games.
Sindhushree’s achievement carries additional significance on the continental stage. Her clearance of 4.25m currently ranks as the fifth-best performance in Asia this season, underlining her growing stature among the continent’s leading pole vaulters.
The emotional moment was made even more special by the athlete’s heartfelt tribute to her late father. Reflecting on her record-breaking jump, Sindhushree said, “When I cleared the height, I knew my father was supporting me from heaven.” The statement captured the personal significance of the achievement and added a touching dimension to one of the championship’s most memorable performances.
Competing against a strong field, Sindhushree displayed exceptional composure and confidence throughout the event. Her successful clearance at 4.25m represented not only a national milestone but also a breakthrough moment in her own athletic journey. The substantial improvement from her previous best demonstrates the progress she has made and signals the potential for even greater heights in the future.
With the new national record, Asian Games qualification secured, and a place among Asia’s top performers this season, Sindhushree has firmly established herself as one of India’s premier field-event athletes. Her achievement is another significant boost for Indian athletics and highlights the growing strength of pole vaulting in the country.
As preparations begin for future international competitions, Sindhushree G’s historic performance at the Interstate Championships will be remembered as a landmark moment in Indian women’s pole vault history.
Indian pole vault sensation Dev Meena continued his remarkable rise by breaking the men’s national record once again at the 65th Interstate Athletics Championships 2026, clearing 5.46 m to set a new Indian mark.
The performance not only earned Meena another national record but also secured the Asian Games 2026 qualification standard, further cementing his status as one of India’s most exciting field event athletes.
This latest achievement marks Meena’s second consecutive national record-breaking performance, highlighting his rapid progression in the event. Even more remarkably, it is the fifth time the Indian men’s pole vault national record has been improved in less than two years, reflecting the unprecedented growth of the discipline in the country.
Meena’s consistent record-breaking performances have transformed the landscape of Indian pole vaulting. With every competition, the young vaulter continues to push the boundaries of what was once considered possible in Indian athletics.
His 5.46m clearance adds another chapter to what has become a genuine pole vault revolution in India.
For now, the spotlight firmly belongs to Dev Meena, who has once again rewritten the national record books and reaffirmed his position as India’s leading pole vaulter.
India’s top pole vaulters will be in action today at 16:30 IST at the Interstate Athletics Championships 2026, with the Asian Games qualification mark on the line.
Elite Line-up:
1⃣ Dev Meena – 5.45m (NR)
2⃣ Kuldeep Yadav – 5.45m (NR)
3⃣ Reegan Ganesh – 5.35m
4⃣ M Gowtham – 5.20m.
In their last competition, both Dev Meena and Kuldeep Yadav broke the national record and now jointly hold it at 5.45m.
The men’s pole vault national record has been improved four times since last season, rising from 5.31m to 5.45m — a remarkable leap for the event in India.
The Asian Games qualification standard also stands at 5.45m, meaning athletes will need to match or better that mark here to secure their ticket to the Games.
What are your predictions?
Can we witness another national record today?
