Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Mansukh Mandaviya congratulated Indian high jumper Sarvesh Kushare after he set a new national record by clearing 2.31m at the 2026 National Inter-State Senior Athletics Championships in Bhubaneswar on Saturday. Kushare surpassed Tejaswin Shankar's eight-year-old mark of 2.29m, as per Olympics.com.
Mandaviya's Message on Social Media
In a post on X, Mandaviya said, 'A milestone leap for Indian athletics! Congratulations to Sarvesh Anil Kushare on setting a new National Record of 2.31m in the Men's High Jump and securing his qualification for the 2026 Asian Games.'
Ancy Sojan Breaks Long Jump Record
In another milestone for Indian athletics, Keralam long-jumper Ancy Sojan made history by smashing the 22-year-old national record in the discipline held by legendary Anju Bobby George. Ancy, 25, leaped 6.88m, surpassing Anju's long-held national record of 6.83m set during the 2004 Athens Olympics, according to ESPN.
Other Athletes Securing Asian Games Spots
Several athletes have secured Asian Games spots through their performances at the championships, taking place from June 24 to 28 at Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar. These include Dev Meena (pole vault men's), Jyothi Yarraji (women's 100m hurdles), Anushka Yadav (hammer throw women's), and Mohammed Afsal (800m men's).
