In a landmark moment for Indian athletics, Sarvesh Kushare became the first Indian high jumper to qualify for the final of the World Athletics Championships, clearing 2.25m in the men’s high jump qualification round in Tokyo.
The 29-year-old athlete, who has been steadily rising on the continental stage, now takes a giant leap onto the global scene with his maiden World Championships final. High jump has rarely featured in India’s international medal conversations. While the nation has celebrated achievements in javelin, long jump, and middle-distance running in recent years, the vertical leap remained a discipline dominated by athletes from Europe, the United States, and the Caribbean.
Sarvesh Kushare’s progression to the top 12 finalists marks a significant breakthrough, giving India its first taste of representation at the very highest level in this technical event. Kushare secured his spot in the final as the ninth-best qualifier among 13 athletes who advanced.
His sequence of attempts 2.16m (XO), 2.21m (XO), and 2.25m (XO) demonstrated composure under pressure. Each clearance brought him closer to the historic milestone, with the 2.25m jump proving decisive in sealing his passage to the finals.
Building on Continental Success
This achievement is not an overnight success story. Kushare has been on the fringes of elite performance for several years. He first gained attention when he won the silver medal at the 2023 Asian Athletics Championships, clearing 2.26m. Later that year, he narrowly missed a medal at the Asian Games in Hangzhou, finishing fourth in a fiercely competitive field. At the 2023 World Championships in Budapest and the 2024 Paris Olympics, Kushare fell short of qualifying for the finals, bowing out in the preliminary rounds. The Tokyo qualification therefore represents not just a national first, but also a personal triumph of persistence and steady progression.
Kushare’s current season has been marked by steady consistency. He has cleared his season-best of 2.26m twice in 2025, underlining his ability to perform near his top level when it matters most. His lifetime best stands at 2.27m, achieved in 2022, making the upcoming final an opportunity to not just compete among the world’s elite but perhaps challenge his own boundaries.
The Tokyo qualification round also saw Kushare improve his performance at global championships. At the 2023 edition, he managed only 2.22m. By clearing 2.25m here, he showed the ability to raise his game under greater pressure, an encouraging sign as he prepares for the final.
Kushare’s qualification comes against a backdrop of some of the world’s finest high jumpers in the fray. The field includes reigning Olympic and World champions such as Mutaz Essa Barshim of Qatar, Woo Sang-hyeok of South Korea, and Gianmarco Tamberi of Italy, all of whom bring championship pedigree and season-best marks well beyond 2.30m.
For Kushare, the challenge will be formidable. But the fact that he is in this company – the last 13 standing on the world stage is itself a measure of how far Indian athletics has come. His goal in the final will be to compete with composure, aim for a new personal best, and cement his place among the elite.
Kushare’s breakthrough is emblematic of the expanding horizons of Indian athletics. After Neeraj Chopra’s Olympic and World titles in javelin, Murali Sreeshankar’s rise in long jump, and Avinash Sable’s dominance in steeplechase, Kushare’s entry into the World Championships final adds another dimension to India’s growing reputation in track and field. High jump is a discipline requiring not just strength but technical precision, rhythm, and mental poise. That an Indian athlete has reached this stage underscores the deepening talent pool and the increasing sophistication of training in the country.
Kushare himself, speaking after qualification, reflected the calm focus that has defined his season. “I just wanted to stay composed with every jump. Clearing 2.25m gave me confidence. The final will be tough, but I am proud to represent India at this stage.”
The men’s high jump final is scheduled for September 16, and all eyes in Indian athletics will be on Kushare. The target will be clear: clear 2.26m or beyond, challenge his lifetime best of 2.27m, and finish as high as possible among the 13 finalists. Whether or not a medal comes into the picture, Kushare’s presence in the final already represents history. It ensures India will have a voice in a discipline where it had none before, and it sets the stage for future athletes to dream bigger.
In Tokyo, Sarvesh Kushare has already scripted his place in history as the first Indian high jumper to reach a World Championships final. His clearance of 2.25m was more than a number it was a barrier broken, a new standard set. As he prepares for the final, the hopes of Indian athletics fans will be with him. Whatever the result on September 16, Kushare’s leap into the elite circle of global high jumping is a milestone that will be remembered as a turning point for the sport in India.
