Sarvesh Kushare shattered the national high jump record with a leap of 2.29 meters at the Federation Cup in Patiala, securing his spot for the Asian Games. The previous record of 2.28m was held by Manjula Kumara since 2004.
Record-Breaking Performance
Kushare, representing Maharashtra, cleared 2.29m on his second attempt, surpassing the Asian Games qualifying mark of 2.27m. His performance came after a series of consistent jumps, including 2.15m, 2.20m, 2.24m, and 2.27m.
"I am thrilled to break the national record and make the Asian Games team. This has been my dream for years," Kushare said after the event.
Ancy Sojan's Historic Leap
In the women's long jump, Ancy Sojan jumped 6.83m to break a 22-year-old national record held by Anju Bobby George (6.74m). Sojan's leap also earned her a spot in the Asian Games.
"I am overjoyed. This record has stood for so long, and I am proud to be the one to break it," Sojan commented.
Other Notable Performances
The Federation Cup also saw strong performances in other events. In men's 400m hurdles, MP Jabir won gold with a time of 49.45 seconds, while in women's 3000m steeplechase, Parul Chaudhary set a new meet record of 9:34.28.
Overall, the competition highlighted India's growing depth in athletics ahead of the Asian Games.
