Sarvesh Kushare secured a silver medal in the men’s high jump at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, clearing 2.25 meters. The achievement marks the first silver medal for an Indian athlete in the event’s history at the Commonwealth Games, drawing praise from Prime Minister Narendra Modi on July 28, 2026.
National record holder Sarvesh Kushare reached a new milestone at the Commonwealth Games 2026 by clearing 2.25 meters in the men’s high jump competition. The 31-year-old athlete’s performance in Glasgow earned him a silver medal, establishing a historic first for India in the event’s Commonwealth history.
The Countback Battle for Gold in Glasgow
Competition for the top of the podium came down to a countback rule after both Kushare and Jamaica’s Chitralekha successfully cleared 2.25 meters. When both athletes failed to clear 2.28 meters, officials applied the countback rule to break the tie. Beckford secured the gold medal because he had fewer unsuccessful attempts than Kushare, leaving the Indian athlete with the silver.
England’s Jack Kimani claimed the bronze medal with a jump of 2.20 meters. Meanwhile, fellow Indian competitor Chitralekha finished fifth in the standings with a leap of 2.15 meters.
From an Onion Farm in Nashik to the Commonwealth Podium
Kushare’s journey to the international podium stems from a background of significant hardship in Devgaon village, located in Maharashtra’s Nashik district, where his father cultivates onions. Lacking proper training facilities and resources during his youth, Kushare and his first coach constructed a makeshift landing pit using corn plant husks, cotton, and farm waste to allow him to practice high jump.
That grassroots training built the foundation for recent international success. Kushare entered the Glasgow competition following strong form on the circuit, which included a third-place finish at the Monaco Diamond League with a 2.26-meter clearance that made him the fourth Indian athlete to reach a Diamond League podium. Prior to that, he established a national record by jumping 2.31 meters at the National Inter-State Championship in Bhubaneswar.
National Leaders Praise the Historic Silver Medal
Following the event, Prime Minister Narendra Modi commended Kushare’s dedication and steady performance on social media, emphasizing the pride the nation takes in his accomplishment.
Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi stated that Sarvesh Kushare had achieved a spectacular silver in the men’s high jump at #CWG2026, noting that his determination and consistency had been noteworthy, offering congratulations on his outstanding achievement, expressing that India is proud of him, and wishing him many more successes ahead.
The silver medal improves upon India’s previous high jump history at the games, following Tejaswin Shankar’s bronze medal win at the 2022 Birmingham Games.
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