Indian high jumper Pooja Singh etched her name in the history books by shattering a 14-year-old national record at the Asian Under-20 Championships in Dubai on Thursday. The 18-year-old athlete cleared 1.91 meters in the women's high jump event, surpassing the previous mark of 1.90m set by Sahana Kumari in 2009.
Record-Breaking Performance
Pooja's leap of 1.91m not only secured her the gold medal but also earned her a qualification spot for the World Under-20 Championships. Her performance was a standout at the championships, where she dominated the field with consistent jumps.
Journey to the Top
Hailing from Haryana, Pooja has been training under coach Sandeep Singh. She had earlier won a bronze at the Asian Youth Championships in 2022. Her recent form has been impressive, with personal bests in multiple meets this season.
The previous record holder, Sahana Kumari, had held the national U20 mark for over a decade. Pooja's achievement signals a bright future for Indian athletics in the high jump discipline.
Reactions and Future Goals
Expressing her joy, Pooja said, "I am thrilled to break the record and win gold. My next target is to perform well at the World U20 Championships and improve my personal best further." Athletics Federation of India officials congratulated her, highlighting the depth of young talent in the country.
This record adds to India's growing list of achievements in track and field events at the junior level. With the Paris Olympics in sight, Pooja's progress will be closely watched.
