Sarvesh Kushare scripted history at the Commonwealth Games 2026, becoming the first Indian to win a silver medal in the men’s high jump. The national record holder cleared 2.25m to clinch second place late on Monday night, with Jamaica’s Romaine Beckford taking gold on countback after both athletes failed at 2.28m.
The result marked a significant step forward for India in the event at the Commonwealth Games. Before this, Tejaswin Shankar had been the only Indian to win a men’s high jump medal at the Games, claiming bronze at Birmingham 2022. Kushare’s silver bettered that mark and added a new milestone to India’s athletics record at the multi-sport event.
How the men’s high jump medals were decided
Kushare’s key clearance came at 2.25m, which ultimately secured him the silver medal. Beckford also cleared 2.25m, setting up a direct battle for gold as the bar was raised to 2.28m.
At 2.28m, both Kushare and Beckford failed to clear the height. With neither able to produce a successful jump at that mark, the gold medal was decided on countback, with Beckford adjudged the winner and Kushare settling for silver.
England’s Jack Kimani took the bronze medal with a best clearance of 2.20m. India also had Adarsh Ram in the field, and he finished fifth after clearing 2.15m.
Tejaswin Shankar also competed on Monday but retired after failing to clear 2.05m in his first attempt. The report noted the decision was a precautionary measure, as Shankar is competing in the men’s decathlon starting on Thursday. The 27-year-old has a personal best of 2.29m and has not competed in many individual high jump events in the last two years while focusing on decathlon.
Kushare’s Commonwealth Games silver also arrived in the context of a strong recent run. Earlier this month, he became the first Indian high jumper to finish on the podium at a Diamond League meet, taking third place on his debut in Monaco. In that competition, he cleared 2.26m to secure the third spot.
He had also set a national record of 2.31m while winning gold at the National Inter-State Championships in Bhubaneswar last month, underlining his upward trajectory heading into the Commonwealth Games.
The report also highlighted Kushare’s background and progression in the sport. He is from Devargaon village in Maharashtra’s Nashik district and used to practice high jump using makeshift landing pits made of corn husks, cotton, and agricultural waste prepared by his father and childhood coach.
Described as a late bloomer, Kushare first took part in a national event when he was nearly 20 at the 2014 Junior Championships. His first national-level gold came at the 2018 Indian Open with a jump of 2.24m, and he improved to 2.26m while winning gold at the 2019 Indian Open. He later jumped 2.27m to win gold at the 2022 Gujarat National Games.
The article noted that after two years without improvement, Kushare jumped 2.18m to finish sixth at the 2025 World Championships in Tokyo, and in the process became the first Indian to qualify for the men’s high jump final at the World Championships.
What Kushare’s silver means for India at CWG 2026
Kushare’s 2.25m silver medal is a landmark achievement for Indian athletics at the Commonwealth Games, as it is the country’s first silver in the men’s high jump at the event. It also builds on India’s previous medal history in the discipline, moving beyond the bronze won by Tejaswin Shankar at Birmingham 2022.
With Kushare delivering a historic podium finish and other Indian jumpers also featuring in the final standings, the men’s high jump at Commonwealth Games 2026 added a notable chapter to India’s track and field story.
