India’s Sarvesh Kushare etched his name in athletics history by becoming the first Indian high‑jumper to secure a podium finish at a Diamond League meet.
The national record holder cleared 2.26 m to claim third place in his debut appearance at the prestigious Monaco Leg, marking a landmark moment for Indian track and field.
The 31‑year‑old entered the competition riding high on confidence after setting a new national record of 2.31 m at the National Inter‑State Championships in Bhubaneswar last month. His Monaco performance also made him only the fourth Indian athlete to finish in the top three of a Diamond League event, joining Neeraj Chopra, Murali Sreeshankar, and Vikas Gowda.
Kushare outperformed several Olympic and World Championship medallists, including Qatar’s Mutaz Essa Barshim, Italy’s Gianmarco Tamberi, and USA’s JuVaughn Harrison. Ukraine’s Oleh Doroshchuk won gold with 2.32 m, while Britain’s Jack Kimani took silver at 2.30 m.
Hailing from Devargaon village in Maharashtra’s Nashik district, Kushare’s journey from makeshift pits filled with corn husks and cotton to the global stage is nothing short of inspirational. The son of an onion farmer, he trained under humble conditions before rising to become Asia’s leading high‑jumper and one of India’s brightest prospects for upcoming international championships.
