Sarvesh Kushare Makes History as First Indian to Win Silver in Commonwealth Games High Jump

Historic Achievement for Sarvesh Kushare

Glasgow: Sarvesh Kushare, a national record holder, has made history by becoming the first Indian to secure a silver medal in the men's high jump at the Commonwealth Games.

The 31-year-old athlete achieved a height of 2.25 meters, earning him the silver medal, while Jamaica's Romaine Beckford took home the gold late Monday night.

Both Kushare and Beckford were unable to clear 2.28 meters, but Beckford was awarded the gold based on countback, leaving Kushare with the silver. The bronze medal was claimed by England's Jack Kimani, who cleared 2.20 meters.

Another Indian competitor, Adarsh Ram, finished in fifth place with a jump of 2.15 meters.

Prior to this event, Tejaswin Shankar was the only Indian to have won a high jump medal, securing bronze at the 2022 Birmingham Games. Kushare's silver marks his first medal at the Commonwealth Games and his debut at the event.

Tejaswin also participated but withdrew after failing to clear 2.05 meters in his initial attempt, a precautionary decision as he prepares for the men's decathlon starting Thursday.

Kushare, who hails from a farming family in Maharashtra's Nashik district, practiced high jump using makeshift landing pits crafted from corn husks and agricultural waste by his father, who also served as his coach.

"This is my first medal at a major event. The Asian Games and Commonwealth Games are stepping stones towards the Olympics. I aim to win a medal and will give my best," Kushare expressed after his event.

"I aspire to win a gold medal at the Asian Games," he added.

Reflecting on his mindset before his final jumps, he stated, "I aimed to complete each jump on my first attempt. It was a valuable experience."

Regarding the advice he received from Tejaswin in the throwing arena, Kushare remarked, "Let the player take the lead. He is a talented athlete. We will continue to compete and strive for excellence."

Earlier this month, Kushare made headlines by becoming the first Indian high jumper to podium at a Diamond League meet, finishing third in Monaco on his debut and joining an elite group of Indian athletes.

He cleared 2.26 meters to secure third place in a competitive field, achieving a significant personal milestone. Last month, he set a national record of 2.31 meters while winning gold at the National Inter-State Championships in Bhubaneswar.

Kushare is now the fourth Indian to finish in the top three of a Diamond League event, following javelin star Neeraj Chopra, long jumper Murali Sreeshankar, and former discus thrower Vikas Gowda.

A late bloomer in athletics, Kushare first competed at a national event at nearly 20 years old during the 2014 Junior Championships. His first national gold came in 2018 at the Indian Open with a jump of 2.24 meters, which he later improved to 2.26 meters in 2019.

He raised his personal best to 2.27 meters while winning gold at the 2022 Gujarat National Games. After a two-year period without significant improvement, he finished sixth at the 2025 World Championships in Tokyo with a jump of 2.18 meters.

In doing so, he became the first Indian to qualify for the men's high jump final at the World Championships.