Pooja Singh: India’s Rising High Jump Star Scaling New Heights at Just 18

At just 18 years of age, Pooja Singh has already established herself as one of the brightest prospects in Indian athletics.

Her recent silver medal at the 2026 Asian Indoor Athletics Championships is not merely another addition to her growing medal cabinet it is a statement of intent. Coming back from injury and delivering a continental podium finish at the senior level underlines both her resilience and her immense potential.

Pooja’s journey over the past few years has been marked by steady progression and big-stage performances. She first rose to prominence in the junior circuit, clinching gold at the Asian U-18 Championships and later securing silver at the Asian U-20 Championships. At the South Asian U-20 Championships, she once again stood atop the podium, reinforcing her reputation as a consistent performer across age categories.

However, it was her gold medal at the Asian Championships that signaled her arrival among Asia’s elite. Clearing 1.89m, she not only claimed the continental crown but also etched her name into Indian athletics history. That mark made her India’s third-best women’s high jumper of all time, placing her behind only Sahana Kumari and Bobby Aloysius on the national all-time list. Achieving such a height as a teenager is rare in Indian field events and highlighted the scale of her promise.

Her personal best of 1.89m is more than just a number. In elite high jump, every centimeter is hard-earned. The difference between 1.87m and 1.90m can represent months of technical refinement and strength development. That Pooja is already operating in that range suggests that she is not far from challenging the long-standing national record.

What makes her recent Asian Indoor silver even more impressive is the context. Injuries can derail the progress of young athletes, particularly in an event as technically demanding as the high jump. The take-off phase requires explosive power and precise coordination, placing significant stress on the lower limbs. For a young athlete to return from injury and immediately perform at a continental championship speaks volumes about her physical preparation and mental fortitude.

At the Asian Indoor Championships, she cleared 1.87m to claim silver, proving that her outdoor gold was no fluke. Indoor competitions demand a slightly different rhythm and control due to enclosed conditions and shorter run-up spaces. Adapting quickly after time away from competition showcased her maturity and competitive instinct.

Beyond medals and heights, Pooja’s rise represents something larger for Indian athletics. Women’s high jump in India has had moments of brilliance but has lacked sustained continuity at the top level. With Pooja emerging so early and achieving so much before turning 19, there is renewed optimism about the event’s future trajectory.

Her technical foundation has been a key factor in her development. The high jump is an event that blends speed, strength, flexibility, and timing into one seamless motion. Pooja’s approach run, take-off explosiveness, and mid-air arch have steadily improved with each season. More importantly, she has demonstrated the composure required in finals an area where many young athletes struggle.

Looking ahead, the timing of her rise could not be more significant. The next few seasons feature major multi-sport events, including the Asian Games, where the medal-winning heights typically hover around the 1.90m mark or slightly higher. Given her current trajectory, that target appears well within reach.

But progression at this stage must be managed carefully. Young athletes who achieve early success often face the dual challenge of expectation and physical strain. Balancing training intensity, injury prevention, and competition exposure will be crucial to ensuring that her growth remains steady rather than rushed.

Encouragingly, her comeback silver suggests that she and her support system are approaching her development with patience and discipline. The ability to recover from a setback and immediately perform at a high level is often what separates good athletes from future champions.

Pooja Singh’s medal record already includes Asian Championships gold, Asian Indoor silver, Asian U-20 silver, Asian U-18 gold, and South Asian U-20 gold. Add to that her status as India’s third-best women’s high jumper and an Under-20 national record holder, and it becomes clear that her foundation is exceptionally strong.

Yet, perhaps the most exciting part of her story is that she is only at the beginning. At 18, she is still physically developing. With improved strength, technical refinement, and international exposure, heights beyond 1.90m seem not just possible but probable.

Indian athletics has found in Pooja a talent capable of carrying the women’s high jump into a new era. Her silver medal at the Asian Indoor Championships was not simply a comeback it was a reminder that the best may still be ahead.

The bar will continue to rise. And if her journey so far is any indication, Pooja Singh is ready to rise with it.