NEW DELHI: Teenage high jumper Pooja Singh produced a sensational performance on Friday, clinching gold with a stunning leap of 1.93m at the Asian U20 Athletics Championships in Hong Kong and scripting multiple pieces of history in the process.The 19-year-old became the first Indian ever to win a gold medal in the women’s high jump event at the championship, capping off a memorable day with a record-shattering effort.Pooja’s remarkable 1.93m clearance not only secured the top spot on the podium but also broke the 14-year-old senior National Record of 1.92m set by Sahana Kumari. In doing so, the young athlete announced herself as one of India’s brightest emerging track and field talents.It turned into a dream outing for Pooja, who first cleared 1.91m to better the National U20 Record and seal the gold medal before going even higher to rewrite the senior national mark.WATCH:Her 1.93m effort also helped her breach the qualification standard for the Commonwealth Games 2026, set at 1.92m. However, it remains unclear whether the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) will grant her an exemption, considering the Federation Cup had already concluded as the final CWG qualifying event.Pooja’s historic achievement comes as a major boost for Indian athletics, particularly in the high jump discipline, where India has long awaited a breakthrough performance on the continental stage.The teenager showed remarkable composure throughout the competition and saved her best for the biggest moment, delivering a performance that could mark the beginning of a promising international career.With the senior national record now in her name and a continental U20 gold medal around her neck, Pooja has firmly entered the spotlight as India’s next athletics sensation.
