Sarvesh Kushare, the star high jumper from Maharashtra, has set his sights on winning gold at the Asian Games after becoming the first Indian to clear the 2.30m barrier. He achieved this feat with a jump of 2.31m at the National Inter-State Championships in Bhubaneswar on Saturday, breaking the previous national record of 2.29m held by Tejaswin Shankar.
Kushare's Record-Breaking Performance
The 31-year-old's jump of 2.31m not only secured the national record but also ranks as the third best in the world this season and the best among Asian athletes. He comfortably surpassed the Asian Games qualifying mark of 2.19m set by the Athletics Federation of India (AFI). After breaking Tejaswin's record, Kushare attempted 2.35m but failed in two attempts.
Confidence for Asian Games and Commonwealth Games
Speaking after his historic jump, Kushare said, "I will go for gold at the Asian Games and I am confident about it. The 2.35m mark will also fall, maybe during the Commonwealth or the Asian Games." This will be his second Asian Games; he finished fourth in the 2022 edition in China with 2.26m. He is also part of the 32-member Indian team for the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, scheduled from July 23 to August 2.
Tejaswin Shankar's Praise
Tejaswin Shankar, whose record was broken, tweeted: "Another mental barrier broken!! 2.30+ probably the last of the sticky records. 2.34-35 is just a matter of time." When asked if 2.30m was a mental barrier, Kushare responded, "Height is not easy. But if our preparation is according to that, anything is possible." He added, "Going above 2.30m is very difficult. If we talk about 2017-18, had Tejaswin not done 2.26m, we would not have come ahead. He did 2.27m and then 2.29m, we also behind slowly. By the grace of God, everything was good and I was able to do it."
Training and Future Plans
Kushare currently trains at the Anju Bobby George Foundation Academy in Bengaluru, having previously trained at the Army Sports Institute in Pune. Regarding practice attempts at 2.30m, he said, "There were attempts in practice, but not so many good attempts like the one I have here. Everything was new and good for me here. It was fun competing and breaking the national record. But I have not attempted 2.35m in practice also."
His coach, Jithin Thomas, a former national record holder himself, encouraged him, saying, "I told him if you do 2.30m, your name will remain associated with Indian athletics for long." Thomas plans to discuss with the AFI the possibility of Kushare training abroad for the remainder of the season.
