For most high jumpers, crossing the age of 30 brings an uncomfortable question: How much longer can I compete? But for Sarvesh Anil Kushare, who turned 30 last June, it did not mark the beginning of the end. Instead, it signalled the start of the finest chapter of his high jump career.
Sarvesh, a Asian Championship 2025 medalist, became India’s first-ever high jump finalist at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, finishing sixth. Just last month, the 31-year-old broke the national record with a clearance of 2.31m, becoming the first Indian to breach the elusive 2.30m barrier.
He did not stop there. Weeks later, he made history on his Diamond League debut in Monaco by clearing 2.26m, becoming the first Indian high jumper to finish inside the top three. In doing so, he joined an elite group of Indian field athletes featuring Neeraj Chopra, Vikas Gowda and Murali Sreeshankar.
Training on a Makeshift Corn-Husk Pit
Sarvesh’s journey began when he was in Class 7 in the small village of Deogaon in Nashik, Maharashtra. His childhood coach, Raosaheb Jadhav, spotted his extraordinary talent using the scissors technique while he was competing alongside much older students from Classes 11 and 12.
When Sarvesh decided to switch to the Fosbury Flop technique to improve his performances, he did not have access to a proper landing mat to prevent serious injuries. His family could not afford one either.
So, his father, Anil Kushare, a farmer, along with coach Jadhav, decided to build one themselves through jugaad, using dried corn husk, cattle fodder, tailoring waste, cotton and flower waste. They packed the materials together to create a makeshift landing pit.
His career gained momentum in 2016 when he joined the Indian Army’s 101 Field Regiment and began training at the Army Sports Institute in Pune. With access to the facilities he had long needed, he flourished under coach Jithin Thomas and also qualified for the Paris Olympics 2024.
Challenge in Glasgow
Sarvesh, who missed the previous Commonwealth Games and is set to make his debut, is currently tied with Great Britain’s Jack Kimani at the top of the Commonwealth seasonal rankings with a best clearance of 2.31m. He heads into the competition as one of the favourites.
He will, however, face a stern challenge from reigning Olympic and world champion Hamish Kerr of New Zealand and Jamaica’s Romaine Beckford. His compatriots Adarsh Ram and Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games bronze medallist Tejaswin Shankar are also expected to be in medal contention.
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The post From Training on a Jugaad Corn Husk Pit in His Village to Becoming a CWG Gold Hope, Sarvesh Kushare Has Aged Like Fine Wine appeared first on Sports News Portal | Revsportz.
