Sarvesh Kushare has his eyes set on Asian Games glory after breaking high jump national record: 'Will go for gold'

Maharashtra's Sarvesh Kushare set a national record in the men's high jump with a stunning effort of 2.31m during the National Inter-State Championships in Bhubaneshwar on Saturday. After breaking the record, he has his eyes set on bringing a gold from the upcoming Asian Games.

Kushare, who became the first Indian to qualify for the men's high jump final at the World Championships in Tokyo last year, cleared 2.31m, bettering the national record of 2.29m, which had been held by Tejaswin Shankar since 2018.

Kushare went for 2.35m but could not clear it in two attempts.

Kushare sets sight on Asian Games gold

His performance on Saturday took Kushare to joint third in the global season rankings and to the top spot among Asian athletes. He also became the first Indian high jumper to clear 2.30m.

In the process, he bettered the Asian Games qualifying standard of 2.19m set by the Athletics Federation of India.

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Asked how everything clicked on Saturday for him to break the national record, Kushare said, "I had been getting close to 2.30m and had been thinking about clearing it, but it just wasn't happening.

"But AFI top officials, including (Lalit) Bhanot sir said I will do 2.30m, for sure. Today I went for 2.31m and I am very satisfied." After breaking Tejaswin's national record, Kushare went for even higher but he could not clear 6.35m in two attempts.

"I will go for gold at the Asian Games and I am confident about it. The 2.35m mark will also fall, may be during the Commonwealth or the Asian Games," Kushare said.

"Before 2015-16, no Indian could go above 2.20m, Tejaswin did that and after that we also felt that we can do it. So, in the near future I also feel that I can do 2.35m."

(With PTI Inputs)