Torn Spikes, Training On Husk To Asian Athletics High-Jump Gold, Here's Pooja Singh's Story

Gumi (South Korea): Pooja Singh, 18, cliched gold in the women’s high jump at the 2025 Asian Athletics Championships in Gumi, South Korea. But the challenges she has faced in her sporting career makes her victory unique. Of all hurdles, her torn spikes patched up with Kinesiology tape during the final set of the championship showcases her steely resolve. In fact, she made it to the championship with a humble start.

No fancy courts or gears to practice with, she had limited resources at her coach Balwan Patra’s academy in Patra village. The mason’s daughter was initially trained with a bamboo pole as the bar and sacks filled with rice husk and hay as the landing mat, reported the Indian Express.

Watch her winning leap here:

Pooja 1.89 Jump ✨🥇

The Jump Which helped 18 Year Old to win Asian Title 🥇!!#AsianAthletics2025 pic.twitter.com/RMwe25vF6E

— Navin Mittal (@NavinSports) May 30, 2025

Singh soared into history at the Asian Athletics Championships with a personal best of 1.89 meters. She hails from Bosti village in Haryana. She was introduced to the sport after Balwan Singh spotted her during a yoga session. Impressed by her flexibility, he introduced her to high jump training.

Her determination never wavered despite a 15-month injury hiatus. In Gumi, she outperformed seasoned athletes from Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, all clearing 1.86 meters, by achieving 1.89 on her first attempt.

Though she narrowly missed the national record of 1.92 meters, Pooja’s rise from a yoga enthusiast to an Asian champion is a testament to resilience and raw talent—marking her as a bright new star in Indian athletics.

Watch what Pooja Singh had spoken about Operation Sindoor:

Pooja Singh,Just 18 yr old,daughter of a mason from Haryana & now, the Asian Champion in High Jump (Senior Category). From supporting the Indian Armed Forces during Op Sindoor to raising the tricolour on the Asian podium, her journey is nothing short of legendary.
With a stunning… pic.twitter.com/GV8BEVBuq8

— Major Surendra Poonia (@MajorPoonia) May 30, 2025