Sarvesh Anil Kushare in a world that spins on a cocktail of fatalism, wants to believe you again. And again.
Somewhere in India, recently, when Sarvesh Kushare asked for a support that could compete abroad in his efforts to qualify for the World Championship, he told him a particular gentleman: “What do you achieve for worlds?”
Battles, obstacles and challenges do not always appear in front of a wrapped, roaring stadium. Sometimes they are quieter, more personal-like they would be thrown into a pool infested with an alligator, forced to either swim clean or eat.
In this pool, here in Tokyo at the National Stadium, at night, when the triple Olympic Champion Faith Kipyegon again showed its class by retaining 1500 meters of crowns for the fourth global title; When the Canadian Olympic champion Ethan Katzberg launched a hammer at 84.70 m, the longest hour in 20 years; And when the US Cordell Tinch, two years after entering the Sub-13 Club in Obstacles 110 meters, he finally won his first World Championship-S ChampionshipArvesh Kushare finished sixth. The result that did not draw the world media in madness, but the one that resisted expectations and carried the weight of gold.
World Athletics Championship, 4th day: the most important
On the evening of September 14th, after qualifying to the finals, Kushare leaned into the mixed zone-aréna with an area of 2000 square feet buzzed with global journalists, clear lights and endless conversations. Unners can even cut athletes unless you are Kipyegon, Ryan Crouser or the winner of the serial medal. Kushare’s first reaction after becoming the first Indian high jumper to qualify for the World Cup final was not about pressure, weather or any particular jump. He adapted to the headband and looked directly forward, pointed to the word of India printed on it and said, “India’s frame Mein Hain on.” (India is within, right?).
It was with the same attitude that he entered the arena jumping, squeezing between the target line of the tracks and the disc and the hammer. It was the first, measuring tape in his hand, kneeling on the run and carefully marking his places. From the stands it may look simple: starting, arc and drop over the bar. But like most careful jumpers, Kushare believes that the perfection lies in the details – measured steps, still moments on the bench, stimulation, mental resetting and stray glances towards throwing the cage. During the qualification he followed some of the women. It was a hammer tonight.
He often raised his towel before each attempt, went to the point of lifting and tear off the imaginary dust. Maybe psychological. Perhaps just another way to close chaos: noise, announcers, Japanese fans roaring for their stars and sheer Bedlam of Track and Field. How does a tall jumper focus when 15 races take place around it? Seven heated 800 m, three men 400 meters, finals of 1500 meters of women, three men’s 110m obstacles, semifinals, final obstacles and hammer finals – never think of triple jump qualifications.
“But that’s what the track and field are,” he said quietly. “It’s a bit of a difference because I came ready to jump and then I was told to stop. It’s a little up and down. But no problem – we learn and move forward.”
So when he returned to the mixed zone after the sixth-to-the-year Indian high jumper at the global meeting ended up the sixth-first. He looked dazed. From the world ranking 38. To the sixth in Tokyo. Tejaswin Shankar, Indian National Record holder, summed up on X: “6 in the world!
Kushare’s campaign started smoothly. He was between eight jumpers to clean 2.20 meters in the first attempts, and then sailed over 2,24 m. The test came to 2.28 m. His personal best cost 2.27 m, with the best 2.26 m. Later he explained, “I heard it out of my heart. It was after a long time. I always think that if I have a chance to say shivaji mahara, I’ll definitely do it. So I did it.”
When the bar raised to 2.31 m, all the seven remaining jumpers lacked the first attempts. Four cleaned it, Kushare wasn’t among them. He is expected to exceed 2.31 m, he would be miraculous, but he has gone through his own scale.
“I wanted to do my personal best. I wanted to go around 2,30. But I couldn’t do it. It’s been 2-3 years since I did PB. I did it at the Gujarat national games in 2022. It took a lot of time to improve by one cm. But it’s okay.
Tejaswin, enthusiastic about his friend’s effort, said, “Sarvesh’s performance in the world was nothing spectacular. Jumping PB on such an important opportunity is simply commendable and something most athletes dream of.
It was not the most dazzling final with a high jump in history-no 2,35 meters chain, no dramatic rescue of a third injury. The only remarkable was the third attempt Hamish Kerr at 2.34 m, which eventually earned him gold, the second Zealand Championship after Geordie Beamish amazed Soufane Bakkali in Steeplechase.
For Sarves, however, the story consisted of meaning, not just statistics. In order to hear his voice to ensure that the high jump again found its place in the sporting imagination of India. For him it was also a test of will and inner endurance. Neuzal. He came to Tokyo looking for a voice.
And although his could have been whisper, it was loud enough for the nation to hear him saying, I’m here.
– ends
Published:
Debodinna Chakracorty
Published on:
September 17, 2025
