Sarvesh Kushare Becomes First Indian to Win Commonwealth Games Men's High Jump Silver

National record holder Sarvesh Kushare etched his name into Indian athletics history by becoming the first Indian to win a silver medal in the men's high jump at the Commonwealth Games. The 31-year-old cleared 2.25m to secure the historic podium finish on Monday night, marking another milestone in his remarkable rise.

Kushare and Jamaica's Romaine Beckford both successfully cleared 2.25m before failing all three attempts at 2.28m. However, Beckford claimed the gold medal on countback, while Kushare settled for silver. England's Jack Kimani took the bronze with a best jump of 2.20m.

India's Adarsh Ram finished fifth after clearing 2.15m, while Tejaswin Shankar, India's only previous Commonwealth Games men's high jump medallist with a bronze in Birmingham 2022, retired after failing to clear 2.05m in his opening attempt. The decision was a precaution as he prepares to compete in the decathlon, beginning later this week.

Kushare's silver continues a dream season for the Maharashtra athlete. Earlier this month, he became the first Indian high jumper to finish on the podium at a Diamond League meet, claiming third place in Monaco with a 2.26m effort. He also set a new national record of 2.31m while winning gold at the National Inter-State Championships in Bhubaneswar last month.

Hailing from Devargaon village in Maharashtra's Nashik district, Kushare is the son of an onion farmer. During his early years, he trained using makeshift landing pits filled with corn husks, cotton, and agricultural waste, prepared by his father, who also served as his childhood coach.

A late entrant to elite athletics, Kushare competed in his first national event in 2014 and won his maiden national gold in 2018. He also became the first Indian to qualify for the men's high jump final at the World Championships, finishing sixth in Tokyo 2025, before achieving successive international breakthroughs in 2026.