Indian athletics witnessed a groundbreaking moment when Sarvesh Kushare became the first-ever Indian high jumper to qualify for the finals of the World Athletics Championships. The 30-year-old from Devargaon village in Nashik recorded a personal best leap of 2.28 m at the Tokyo National Stadium, finishing joint-sixth in a star-studded field that included Olympic champion Hamish Kerr. Although he narrowly missed a medal, Kushare’s achievement marked a historic leap not just for his career, but for Indian high jump as a whole. 

The Humble Beginnings

Sarvesh’s story is extraordinary because of where it all began. Growing up in Devargaon, a village with fewer than 3,000 people, there were no training facilities for high jump. His father, Anil Kushare, initially wanted him to become a civil engineer. But Sarvesh’s heart was set on high jump. That’s when his schoolteacher and first coach, Raosaheb Jadhav, stepped in. Together with Anil, they built a makeshift pit using corn husks, cotton, and old clothes. Two poles tied together formed the bar, and the husk pit became his landing spot. For years, this makeshift setup became the foundation of his training.

The Call Before the Final

On the eve of his World Championship final, Sarvesh made a short video call to his childhood coach, showing him the grand stadium and the professional high-jump pit. “For a moment, we became nostalgic,” Jadhav said. The memory of corn husk pits contrasted sharply with the bright lights of Tokyo’s 67,000-seater National Stadium. It wasn’t just a call; it was a reminder of how far he had come, from a village that had never seen someone travel outside Maharashtra to competing against the best in the world.

Breaking Personal Barriers

Kushare’s sixth-place finish was significant not just because of its historic value but also because he finally broke his long-standing personal best. For three years, he had been stuck at 2.27 m. At the Championships, he cleared 2.28 m, celebrating with an emotional display, flexing his muscles to the camera and soaking in the applause. As Kushare competed in Tokyo, his entire village paused to watch. Families gathered to see their boy take on the world. But one man couldn’t bring himself to watch his father. 

High Jump: The Sport of Leaping Over Limits

The high jump is a track-and-field event where athletes try to leap over a horizontal bar placed at different heights without touching or knocking it down. They sprint toward the bar, take off from one foot, and use technique, speed, and flexibility to clear it before landing on a cushioned mat. India has been slowly making its mark in high jump. Athletes like Tejaswin Shankar (Commonwealth Games bronze medalist) and Sarvesh Kushare (first Indian male to qualify for the World Championships final in 2025) have raised hopes for the country. For many Indian athletes, the journey is not easy. They often train in limited facilities, sometimes even on mud pits or makeshift setups. Yet, with determination and talent, they rise to the international stage, proving that passion can overcome challenges.

Sarvesh Kushare’s journey is more than a sporting achievement; it is a story of hope and breaking barriers. From landing on sacks filled with corn husks in a small village to leaping under the bright lights of Tokyo, he has shown that greatness can emerge from the most humble beginnings. For Indian athletics, he is not just a high jumper; he is a symbol of belief. For every aspiring athlete in rural India, he is proof that no dream is too high to chase. And for Sarvesh himself, the story is far from over; the leap towards a national record, and perhaps an Olympic medal, has just begun.