Sarvesh Kushare’s Silver Ends India’s 56‑Year Asian Games High‑Jump Drought, Parul Chaudhary Claims Steeplechase Bronze

Sarvesh Anil Kushare secured a silver medal in the men’s high jump at the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi‑Nagoya, breaking a 56‑year wait for India in the event. The 31‑year‑old Maharashtra native cleared 2.25 m, matching Chinese Taipei’s Chao‑Husan Fu, but lost the gold on count‑back. Kushare’s medal is India’s fourth ever in Asian Games high jump; the previous one was a bronze by Bhim Singh in 1970, after golds by Bhim Singh in 1966 and Ajit Singh Bhalla in 1954. Earlier this year Kushare set a new national record of 2.31 m at the Inter‑State National Championships, added a Commonwealth Games silver, and finished third at the Diamond League meet in Monaco. In the women’s 3000 m steeplechase, Parul Chaudhary clocked 9:08.67 to earn bronze, improving her own national record of 9:12.46 and marking her second Asian Games medal after a silver in 2023. She trailed Bahrain’s Winfred Yavi, who set a Games record of 9:04.36, and Kazakhstan’s Norah Jeruto, who ran 9:06.82. Fellow Indian Ankita Dhyani posted a personal best of 9:19.24 to finish fourth. The two medals bring India’s athletics tally at the Games to twelve, comprising five silvers and seven bronzes.