Pooja Singh Scripts History! Shatters High-Jump NR At Asian U20 Athletics Championships

Indian teenager high jump athlete Pooja Singh broke the national senior record to clinch the gold medal to spearhead at the national contingent’s fine display on the second day of the Asian U20 Athletics Championships in Hong Kong on Friday.

The 19-year-old high jumper registered an incredible effort of 1.93m to improve on the previous record, held by Sahana Kumari, after a 14-year wait. Pooja’s earlier personal best was 1.90m, which she had logged during the Indian Athletics Series meet in New Delhi in April.

Soaring to new heights!

Stellar performance by TOPS athlete Pooja to win Gold at the Asian U20 Athletics Championships. Her 1.93m jump breaks the National Record. Wishing her the best for a bright future! pic.twitter.com/xYTkAzYk5D

— Dr Mansukh

Mandaviya (@mansukhmandviya) May 29, 2026

Pooja won the women’s high gold at the Asian Championships in South Korea last year with a 1.89m effort, and also breached the 2026 Commonwealth Games qualifying mark of 1.92m, as stipulated by AFI, with her effort on Friday.

Pooja, the daughter of a mason from a village in Fatehabad, Haryana, began her journey by practising high jump in village fields, using bamboo poles and sacks filled with husk because of the financial difficulties she faced early in her career. She had initially taken up gymnastics before eventually switching to high jump.

India has so far secured four gold, two silver and two bronze medals over the first two days of competition.

Nitin Gupta clinched gold in the men’s 5000m race walk, finishing with a time of 19 minutes 47.49 seconds, while Amanat Kamboj claimed the women’s discus throw gold with a best effort of 52.24m.

Rahul Jakhar added India’s fourth gold of the day in the men’s decathlon, amassing a total of 7185 points in the demanding 10-event contest.

Other medallists on the second day included Sadhana Devi, who took silver in the women’s triple jump, Upkar, who won silver in the men’s decathlon, and Neeru Pathak, who secured bronze in the women’s 400m.

Earlier, on Thursday, Nipam had opened India’s medal tally with a bronze in the women’s 100m.

(With Inputs From Agencies)