"My aim was gold": Sarvesh Kushare after winning Asian Games high jump silver
Indian high jumper Sarvesh Kushare secured a silver medal at the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, narrowly missing gold on a countback.
Indian high jumper Sarvesh Kushare secured a podium finish at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, clinching a silver medal in a thrilling men's high jump final. While the achievement marks a significant milestone for Indian athletics, the athlete revealed that his heart was set on the top spot.
A Narrow Miss for Gold
The competition in the men's high jump final was intense, with the top contenders pushing their limits. Kushare delivered a strong performance, successfully clearing the 2.25m mark. However, the gold medal eluded him due to the technicalities of the competition.
While both Kushare and Chinese Taipei's Fu Chao-hsuan cleared the same height of 2.25m, Fu was awarded the gold medal based on a countback. South Korea's Woo Sanghyeok completed the podium, taking home the bronze with a best effort of 2.22m.
"I was thinking about gold with every jump"
Speaking to the media following his victory, Kushare expressed a mix of satisfaction and a desire for more. He admitted that his mental focus was entirely on the gold medal throughout the event.
"It feels really good to have won a silver medal for the nation. My aim was gold; I was thinking about gold with every jump, but I couldn't quite pull it off," Kushare said.
The athlete dedicated his success to his family and the nation, noting the emotional weight of representing India on such a massive stage.
The Role of Support and Training
Kushare highlighted the crucial role played by institutional support in his recent rise in international athletics. He specifically credited the Sports Authority of India (SAI) for their assistance following his participation in the World Championships.
Furthermore, he expressed gratitude toward the Athletics Federation of India for their strategic preparation. According to Kushare, a well-timed overseas training camp and a structured training plan were instrumental in his success.
"It was a fantastic training experience, and I benefited from it at both the Commonwealth Games and the Asian Games, where I was able to win a silver medal," he added, noting that the preparation provided the foundation for his podium finishes in both major international events.