Indian High Jumper Sarvesh Kushare Takes 3rd in Monaco

Sarvesh Kushare soared over 2.26 meters in Monaco and landed in the history books, becoming the first Indian high jumper to finish on a Diamond League podium.

The 31-year-old claimed third place in his Diamond League debut, competing against some of track and field's biggest stars. He beat three-time world champion Mutaz Essa Barshim of Qatar and multiple Olympic and world medalists to earn his spot.

Kushare's journey to this moment started in Devargaon village in Maharashtra's Nashik district, where his father grows onions for a living. His dad doubled as his childhood coach, building makeshift landing pits from corn husks, cotton, and agricultural waste so his son could practice.

The high jumper is what athletes call a late bloomer. He didn't compete in his first national event until age 20 in 2014, and his first national gold came four years later in 2018.

Just two weeks before Monaco, Kushare broke the eight-year-old national record with a jump of 2.31 meters at the National Inter-State Championships in Bhubaneswar. He became the first Indian high jumper to clear 2.30 meters, a barrier that once seemed impossible for Indian athletes.

Why This Inspires

Kushare joins an elite four-member club of Indians who have reached a Diamond League podium. The others are javelin star Neeraj Chopra (13 times), long jumper Murali Sreeshankar (once), and former discus thrower Vikas Gowda (twice).

He currently ranks joint fourth among the world's best jumpers this season and sits at number one in Asia. Before his record-breaking performance in Bhubaneswar, he told reporters he believes the 2.35-meter mark will fall soon, possibly at the upcoming Commonwealth or Asian Games.

His path shows what determination can overcome. For two years, he couldn't improve his personal best, stuck at 2.27 meters from the 2022 Gujarat National Games. Then in 2025, he became the first Indian to qualify for the men's high jump final at the World Championships in Tokyo, finishing sixth.

The Monaco performance proves his breakthrough wasn't a fluke. Competing just weeks after setting his national record, Kushare handled the pressure of facing world-class competition and delivered when it mattered most.

He'll face Britain's Jack Kimani again later this month at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games, another chance to show that Indian high jumping has arrived on the world stage.