Sarvesh Anil Kushare, a high jumper from Maharashtra, India, is all set to represent his country at the 2024 Paris Olympics. His journey to the Olympics is an inspiring tale of dedication, resilience, and unwavering passion for the sport.
Early Life and Introduction to High Jump
Born on June 17, 1995, in Deogaon, a village 70 km from Nashik, Maharashtra, Sarvesh Anil Kushare’s life took an athletic turn when he was introduced to high jump at a young age by his high school trainer, RW Jadhav. Unlike most high jumpers, Sarvesh’s training ground was far from conventional. He honed his skills on makeshift landing pits filled with cattle feed and agricultural waste. This unconventional training environment, however, couldn’t deter his determination.
“When I used to try to land on a pit made of agricultural waste back in my village, it was a big challenge. It was risky, but I just trusted my coach, RW Jadhav, and went into my jumps blindly. To be honest, that sort of training helps me now to minimize error,” Sarvesh shared in an earlier interview.
Despite his short stature for a high jumper (approximately 180 cm), Sarvesh’s talent shone through. Under Jadhav’s watchful eye, he cleared an impressive 2.17m at a young age, a feat that even landed him a job in the Indian army.
Training and Early Achievements
Sarvesh’s dedication to the sport began to pay off early in his career. Under the guidance of RW Jadhav, he quickly showed promise in high jump, managing to clear 2.17 meters at a young age, which helped him secure a job in the army. In 2018, at the age of 22, Sarvesh set a new meet record with a jump of 2.24 meters, winning his first high jump gold at the elite level during the National Open Athletics Championships held in Odisha.
Rise to National Prominence
October 2019 marked a significant milestone in Sarvesh’s career. He continued his ascent by winning a gold medal with a jump of 2.26 meters at the Indian Open Championships in Ranchi. This performance paved the way for his international debut at the South Asian Championships. By 2019, he had improved his personal best to an impressive 2.26 meters, up from 2.17 meters in 2017. Despite the challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic, Sarvesh remained focused on his goals. In 2022, he achieved his personal best of 2.27 meters at the Indian National Championship in Gujarat.
Overcoming Challenges
At approximately 180 cm, Sarvesh is one of the shortest competitors in high jump competitions. However, his height has not deterred him. He has proven that determination and hard work can overcome physical limitations. In 2022, at the National Championship, he set his sights on breaking the national record of 2.30 meters held by Tejaswin Shankar. While narrowly missing the record with his trailing leg clipping the bar, his ambition and unwavering focus were evident.
Recent Achievements and Olympic Qualification
Sarvesh’s recent accomplishments solidify his position as a prominent Indian high jumper. In 2023, he clinched a silver medal with a jump of 2.26 meters at the Asian Athletics Championships in Bangkok, securing him a berth for the World Championships. At the World Athletics Championships in Budapest, he finished 11th in the qualification round and 20th overall, clearing 2.26 meters on his second attempt.
His exceptional performance in 2023 continued with a gold medal at the Inter-State Athletics Championships with a record jump of 2.25 meters. This remarkable performance solidified his position for the 2024 Paris Olympics. He secured his spot by finishing 23rd in the qualification process. His inclusion in the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) core group for the 2024 Paris Olympics by the Sports Authority of India (SAI) further underscores his potential and the recognition he has garnered.
The Ultimate Dream: Paris Olympics
As Sarvesh prepares to compete against the best in the world at the Paris Olympics, his journey from humble beginnings in a small village to national and international prominence stands as a testament to his hard work and perseverance. While a medal might be a distant hope, Sarvesh is determined to make his country proud. His story embodies the essence of dedication, resilience, and the unwavering pursuit of a dream.
Also read https://globalbuzznetwork.com/indias-champions-at-paris-olympics-2024/
Current world ranking positions:
| Discipline | Place | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Men’s High Jump | 23 | 1217 |
| Men’s Overall Ranking | 898 | 1217 |
Highest world ranking positions:
| Discipline | Place | Weeks |
|---|---|---|
| Men’s High Jump | 19 | 1 |
| Men’s Overall Ranking | 795 | 1 |
Here is the table showing Sarvesh Anil Kushare’s honours in various championships:
Asian Championships
| Place | Discipline | Mark | Venue | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2nd | High Jump | 2.26 m | Supachalasai National Stadium, Bangkok (THA) | 15 JUL 2023 |
Asian Games
| Place | Discipline | Mark | Venue | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4th | High Jump | 2.26 m | HOC Stadium, Hangzhou (CHN) | 04 OCT 2023 |
Asian Indoor Championships
| Place | Discipline | Mark | Venue | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6th | High Jump | 2.20 m | Nur-Sultan (KAZ) (i) | 12 FEB 2023 |
National Championships
| Place | Discipline | Mark | Venue | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | High Jump | 2.25 m | Tau Devi Lal Stadium, Panchkula (IND) | 29 JUN 2024 |
| 1st | High Jump | 2.24 m | Kalinga Stadium, Bhubaneshwar (IND) | 17 JUN 2023 |
| 1st | High Jump | 2.24 m | Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Chennai (IND) | 12 JUN 2022 |
| 1st | High Jump | 2.26 m | Ranchi (IND) | 11 OCT 2019 |
| 1st | High Jump | 2.24 m | Bhubaneshwar (IND) | 26 SEP 2018 |
Personal best performance:
| Discipline | Performance | Wind | Venue | Date | Records | Results Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High Jump | 2.27 m | Gujarat (IND) | 02 OCT 2022 | 1152 |
Here is the table showing Sarvesh Anil Kushare’s high jump progression:
| Year | Performance | Venue | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 2.01 m | Vijayawada (IND) | 28 NOV 2014 |
| 2015 | 2.00 m | Thiruvanthapuram (IND) | 11 FEB 2015 |
| 2015 | 2.00 m | Thiruvanthapuram (IND) | 12 FEB 2015 |
| 2015 | 2.00 m | Moodbidri (IND) | 17 JAN 2015 |
| 2016 | 2.17 m | Hyderabad (IND) | 01 JUL 2016 |
| 2017 | 2.21 m | Chennai (IND) | 27 SEP 2017 |
| 2018 | 2.24 m | Bhubaneshwar (IND) | 26 SEP 2018 |
| 2019 | 2.26 m | Ranchi (IND) | 11 OCT 2019 |
| 2021 | 2.17 m | Stadium Hanamkonda, Warangal (IND) | 17 SEP 2021 |
| 2021 | 2.17 m | Bhubaneshwar (IND) | 04 SEP 2021 |
| 2022 | 2.27 m | Gujarat (IND) | 02 OCT 2022 |
| 2023 | 2.26 m | Supachalasai National Stadium, Bangkok (THA) | 15 JUL 2023 |
| 2023 | 2.26 m | HOC Stadium, Hangzhou (CHN) | 04 OCT 2023 |
| 2024 | 2.25 m | Tau Devi Lal Stadium, Panchkula (IND) | 29 JUN 2024 |
https://worldathletics.org/athletes/india/sarvesh-anil-kushare-14675319