Asian Athletics 2025: 18-Year-Old Pooja Wins High Jump Gold, Golden Double for Gulveer

India’s athletes have made the nation proud at the 2025 Asian Athletics Championships in Gumi, South Korea. Among the standout performances, 18-year-old Pooja Singh clinched a historic gold in the women’s high jump, while Gulveer Singh achieved a remarkable double gold in the men’s 5000m and 10,000m events. 

Asian Athletics C’ships: Pooja Singh Wins Historic High Jump Gold

Pooja Singh, hailing from Haryana, made history by winning the women’s high jump gold medal. She cleared a personal best of 1.89 meters, surpassing her previous record of 1.85 meters. This achievement makes her only the second Indian woman to win a high jump medal at the Asian Athletics Championships, following Bobby Aloysius’s gold in 2000. 

Pooja’s journey is inspiring. Discovered during a yoga session by coach Balwan Singh, her natural flexibility and strength were evident. Under his guidance, she transitioned into high jumping and quickly rose through the ranks. 

In the final, Pooja faced stiff competition from athletes like Safina Sadullaeva of Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan’s Yelizaveta Matveyeva and Nadezhda Dubovitskaya, all of whom cleared 1.86 meters. However, Pooja’s clean jumps and superior height secured her the top spot on the podium. 

Golden Double for Gulveer Singh

Gulveer Singh delivered an exceptional performance by winning gold in both the men’s 10,000m and 5000m events. He clinched the 10,000m title with a time of 28:38.63 and followed it up with a championship record in the 5000m. 

Gulveer’s double gold places him among an elite group of Indian athletes who have achieved this feat at the Asian Athletics Championships. His endurance and strategic racing were evident as he surged ahead in the final laps to secure victory. 

India’s Medal Tally and Other Highlights

India’s performance at the championships has been commendable. By the penultimate day, the country had secured eight gold, seven silver, and three bronze medals. 

Other notable performances include heptathlete Nandini Agasara clinching gold and Parul Chaudhary breaking her own national record in the women’s 3000m steeplechase, earning a silver medal.

The achievements of Pooja Singh and Gulveer Singh signify a promising future for Indian athletics. Their dedication and success serve as inspiration for aspiring athletes across the nation.

As India continues to invest in sports infrastructure and training, performances like these highlight the potential for greater accomplishments on the global stage.