In a landmark moment for Indian athletics, 18-year-old Pooja Singh clinched the gold medal in the women’s high jump at the 2025 Asian Athletics Championships, clearing a personal best height of 1.89m.
With this achievement, she became only the second Indian woman to win a high jump medal — and the first in 25 years — at the continental event.
Pooja’s performance at the Seoul Olympic Stadium was not just about a medal. It was a breakthrough moment — for her career, for Indian high jumping, and for a country that has long waited for a new name in this discipline.
Her leap of 1.89m was a significant improvement over her previous best of 1.85m, which stood as the U20 National Record. By bettering her own mark, she rewrote the junior record books and moved within touching distance of the senior national record of 1.92m.
She attempted that mark too — a bold call for an 18-year-old in her first major senior final. Although she missed, the intent was clear. Pooja Singh is not just looking to participate; she’s aiming for the very top.
Carrying the Baton from a Legend
Before Pooja, the only Indian woman to medal in the high jump at the Asian Championships was Bobby Aloysius, who won gold in 2000 (1.83m) and silver in 2002 (1.84m). With her triumph in Seoul, Pooja joins Aloysius in a club of two — and already stands above in terms of height cleared.
The symbolism of this transition is striking. Aloysius, a trailblazer in her time, had set benchmarks that stood for two decades. Now, Pooja Singh — from a small village in Haryana — has added her name to that legacy, not by narrowly eclipsing her predecessor, but by setting a new standard.
India’s Long Wait Ends
Pooja’s gold ends a 25-year drought for India in Asian Championship high jump titles — across both men’s and women’s categories. The result adds depth to India’s medal tally in Seoul and underscores the success of the country’s developmental efforts in field events, particularly among women.
High jump has long remained on the fringes of Indian athletics conversations, often overshadowed by javelin, long-distance events, or sprint relays. With this result, Pooja has forced that narrative to shift.
While still a teenager, Pooja has built a solid resume in age-group competitions, showing steady progress over the past 18 months. Her leap to 1.85m earlier this season already placed her among the best junior jumpers in Asia. The gold in Seoul is confirmation of that form — not a surprise, but a culmination of consistent work.
More impressive was the composure she showed during the final. In a field with experienced athletes, Pooja handled the pressure well. Her 1.89m clearance came on her second attempt — a clutch moment that sealed the title.
Tejaswin Shankar Weighs In
Indian high jump national record holder Tejaswin Shankar called Pooja’s performance the “greatest from an Indian perspective” at the ongoing championships. High praise, considering the number of Indian finalists and podium contenders in Seoul.
As mentioned to IndianExpress
What sets Pooja’s effort apart, according to many observers, is not just the gold but the margin of victory, the age at which she achieved it, and the quality of competition she overcame.
The next major target for Pooja Singh will be the World U20 Athletics Championships later this year, and the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. Given her current trajectory, she may also be in the mix for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics if development continues in the right direction.
In the immediate term, focus will be on helping her maintain physical consistency and refining her approach. Attempts at the senior national record of 1.92m may soon turn into successful clearances.
Pooja Singh’s gold in Seoul is more than a medal. It is a moment of transition for Indian high jump — from a sport that once relied on one name, to a future that now has a young leader. At just 18, she has joined Bobby Aloysius in the history books. What she adds from here will define her own legacy.
But for now, she stands at the top of Asia — alone, assured, and ready for more.
Indian Women’s High Jump at Asian Championships
- 2000: Bobby Aloysius – Gold – 1.83m
- 2002: Bobby Aloysius – Silver – 1.84m
- 2025: Pooja Singh – Gold – 1.89m
#AsianAthleticsChampionships2025 | #PoojaSingh | #IndianAthletics | #HighJump | #AAC2025
