Bringing an end to a 14-year wait for Indian athletics, high jumper Pooja Singh smashed the longstanding national record with her 1.93 m effort that also secured her a gold medal at the Asian U20 Athletics Championships 2026 held in Hong Kong.A Bachelor of Physical Education and Sports second year student from Lovely Professional University (LPU), Pooja surpassed the record that had remained unbeaten for over 14 years. Her groundbreaking jump helped her improve her earlier feats, which include winning gold with a 1.89-m jump at the Asian Championships in South Korea last year, showing her quick rise to the top of the discipline in the continent.With her record breaking leap of 1.93 m and Asian U20 gold, she has qualified for the upcoming Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, where she will represent India on yet another major international stage.At just 19 years of age, Pooja has already established herself among India’s finest athletes. She was the youngest Indian athlete to compete at the Asian Games 2022, where she finished an impressive sixth against some of spory’s best.Pooja’s dominance in high jump at home is unparalleled. She now holds nearly every major women’s high jump national record, including the Under-17, Junior National, Under-20 and the Senior National. Her achievements also extend to the Khelo India Youth Games, Khelo India University Games and All India Inter University Games, where she has consistently set new benchmarks.Born in a small village in Haryana’s Fatehabad district, Pooja’s journey to the top of the Asian podium is nothing short of inspirational. Raised in household with limited means, with her father working as a daily wage earner, she dared to dream big when few believed in her.LPU Chancellor Ashok Mittal stated, “LPU will continue to nurture and support talented young minds and athletes. We celebrate not just a medal or a record, but the spirit of excellence that inspires future generations to push beyond perceived limits.”wuw