A Leap from Sarvesh Kushare That Changed Everything
On September 16, 2025, in Tokyo, Indian athletics quietly entered uncharted territory. As the men’s high jump final of the World Athletics Championships unfolded, Sarvesh Anil Kushare stood on the apron, eyes fixed on a bar set at 2.28 metres a height he had chased for years but never conquered. On his third attempt, he soared, cleared the bar, and landed into history.
That leap was more than a personal best. It was India’s first-ever high jump clearance in a World Championships final, earning Kushare a sixth-place finish, a result that resonated far beyond the National Stadium. For a nation used to celebrating throwers like Neeraj Chopra, this was proof that Indian athletes could rise quite literally in new disciplines.
From Deogaon to the World Stage
Sarvesh’s story began in Deogaon, a small village near Nashik in Maharashtra, where his father worked as an onion farmer. Resources were scarce, but determination was abundant.
Without a proper landing mat, young Sarvesh trained on a contraption made from corn husks, cotton, and discarded clothes, stitched together by his father and his first coach, Raosaheb Jadhav.
Initially relying on the old “scissors technique” out of fear of injury, he slowly embraced the Fosbury Flop, the globally dominant style. His breakthrough came in 2013, with a silver at the school nationals in Etawah, his first taste of success outside Maharashtra.
A turning point arrived in 2016, when he joined the Indian Army. The financial stability, access to better training facilities, and professional coaching allowed him to finally compete with proper equipment. It was during this time that Sarvesh bought his first pair of professional high jump spikes, a small but symbolic step toward international athletics.
Sarvesh’s journey has never been defined by sudden explosions of success. Instead, it has been marked by patient, incremental growth:
- 2018: New meet record (2.22m) at the National Open, surpassing Tejaswin Shankar.
- 2019: Gold medal at the South Asian Games in Kathmandu.
- 2022: Career-best 2.27m at the Indian Nationals in Gujarat.
- 2023: Silver medal at the Asian Athletics Championships (2.26m), plus World Championships appearance in Budapest and a fourth-place finish at the Asian Games.
- 2024: Became the first Indian high jumper to qualify for the Olympics, though an ankle injury cut short his Paris campaign.
Each of these steps built toward Tokyo 2025.
What makes Sarvesh’s World Championships final run remarkable is that his entire 2025 campaign was built almost exclusively on domestic competitions. Unlike many global athletes who rely on the Diamond League or European circuits, Sarvesh sharpened himself on Indian tracks.
His season included:
- Indian Grand Prix 1, Bengaluru a strong start to the season.
- Indian Open, Sangrur – cleared 2.26m, showing early form.
- National Federation Championships, Kochi – another consistent 2.26m jump.
- National Inter-State Championships, Chennai – gold with 2.24m.
- Asian Athletics Championships, Gumi (South Korea) – his only foreign competition, where he tested himself against continental rivals.
This schedule, though modest compared to international standards, kept him consistent. By the time he landed in Tokyo, Sarvesh was mentally and technically sharp even if his world ranking (34th out of 36 entrants) suggested otherwise.
Tokyo 2025: Writing History
The qualification round was the first test. Sarvesh cleared 2.16m and 2.21m on second attempts, then nailed 2.25m to secure his final spot. For perspective, Olympic champion Gianmarco Tamberi crashed out at 2.21m, a reminder of how unforgiving the event can be.
Then came the final.
- 2.20m – first attempt clearance.
- 2.24m – cleared on second attempt.
- 2.28m – the big one, finally achieved on his third attempt, a new personal best.
- 2.31m – three valiant tries, but no clearance.
Final result: 2.28m (PB), 6th place.
For Indian athletics, this was groundbreaking. Alongside Neeraj Chopra’s medals and Kishore Jena’s and DP Manu’s top-six finishes in javelin, Kushare’s leap proved that India can produce world-class athletes across field events.
India’s best-ever finishes at the World Championships (men’s events):
Neeraj Chopra – 🥈 (2022), 🥇 (2023)
- Kishore Jena – 5th (2023)
- DP Manu – 6th (2023)
- Sarvesh Kushare – 6th (2025, High Jump)
For decades, Indian jumpers struggled on the global stage. Tejaswin Shankar holds the national record of 2.29m, but his focus has shifted to the decathlon. Sarvesh’s 2.28m now positions him as the standard-bearer, within touching distance of the record.
A Golden Year for India’s Vertical Jumps
Sarvesh’s feat is part of a wider rise in Indian vertical jumps in 2025:
- Pooja (Women’s High Jump) – Asian Champion, 1.89m.
- Dev Meena (Men’s Pole Vault) – National Record 5.40m, 5th at World University Games.
- Sarvesh Kushare (Men’s High Jump) – World Championships finalist, 2.28m PB.
For the first time, India has depth in multiple vertical events, suggesting a future where medals in jumps are realistic targets.
What makes Sarvesh unique is not just his ability but his mindset. As he once said: “Everyone is primarily fighting against themselves.” His Tokyo campaign embodied that philosophy overcoming nerves, setbacks, and his own past limits to deliver on the biggest stage.
He also underlines the value of longevity: “Some athletes train for four or five years. I have been training for 15 to 17 years.” That patience, forged through hardships in Deogaon and sharpened by Army discipline, is his greatest strength.
Symbolism of “Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Ki Jai”
After clearing 2.28m, Sarvesh turned to the stands and roared:
“Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Ki Jai!!!”
It was not just celebration. It was a declaration of identity, pride, and gratitude to his roots, to Maharashtra, and to the spirit of resilience that carried him from a cotton-mat pit in Nashik to the world’s biggest arena.
At 29, Sarvesh is at the peak of his powers. With 2.28m now conquered, the next logical step is 2.30m+, a height that would shatter the Indian record and place him in global medal contention. With Los Angeles 2028 Olympics just three years away, his Tokyo breakthrough may serve as the launchpad for something even bigger.
The key will be:
- Better exposure to international competitions (Diamond League, Continental Tour).
- Access to advanced sports science and recovery support.
- Staying injury-free, given his past ankle issues.
If those align, India could well see its first Olympic high jump finalist and perhaps more.
Sarvesh Anil Kushare’s 2025 season and World Championships final are more than just numbers on a results sheet. They represent belief against odds, persistence over years, and the quiet rise of a new discipline in Indian sport. From an improvised husk mat in Deogaon to a 2.28m leap in Tokyo, his story is a powerful reminder: talent exists across India, waiting for opportunity.
For now, Sarvesh stands tall as one of India’s finest high jumpers ever, with history already secured. But the bar is still rising and so is he.
