Lima (Peru), Aug 30 – India’s Pooja Singh made history by breaking the national U20 women’s high jump record during the qualification round at the World Athletics U20 Championships in Lima. The 17-year-old athlete from Fatehbad, Haryana, cleared a height of 1.83 meters, surpassing her previous record and securing her place in the final.
Singh’s impressive leap earned her a ninth-place finish in the qualification round, with her performance ranking second in Group B and ninth overall. The final of the high jump event is scheduled for August 31.
This new record surpasses Singh’s own national U20 mark of 1.82 meters, which she set last year in Korea while winning a silver medal at the Asian U20 Championships. Her achievement in Lima underscores her continued rise in the athletics world.
From humble beginnings, Singh’s journey in athletics began at the Parta Sports Academy under coach Balwan Singh. Initially training without proper equipment, she first gained recognition by winning gold in the U-14 girls’ category with a jump of 1.41 meters. However, her early career was interrupted by a quadriceps injury that kept her out of competition for 15 months.
Upon her return, Singh made a strong comeback, clinching gold in the U-16 girls’ category at the 2022 junior nationals with a new national record of 1.76 meters. She further cemented her status by winning another gold in the U-18 category at the 2022 youth national championships.
Pooja Singh’s latest achievement highlights her resilience and talent, setting a new benchmark for Indian high jumpers and inspiring many young athletes in the country.
