Indian high jumper Aadarsh Ram has had a breakthrough 2026 season, rewriting his own limits and announcing himself on the international stage.
From winning a bronze medal at the Asian Indoor Championships to producing a stunning personal best of 2.27m (currently India’s third best), Aadarsh has shown that he belongs among the best young high jumpers in the country.
His journey this season has been about constant improvement, confidence, and the hunger to achieve something bigger.
A Season of Personal Bests & Big Milestones
Aadarsh started his 2026 campaign on a strong note at the Asian Indoor Championships, where he cleared 2.19m to win the bronze medal. It was the first major sign that something special was coming.Soon after, he raised the bar higher at the Indian Open Jumps in Bengaluru, clearing 2.23m to break his personal best.
But Aadarsh was not finished.
At the Indian Athletics Series – 6 in Chennai, he produced another brilliant performance, clearing 2.27m, his second personal best of the season and the biggest jump of his career so far.
At the Inter State Athletics Championships 2026, Aadarsh once again proved his consistency by winning the silver medal with a jump of 2.25m and also breached the Asian Games qualification mark.
The same competition witnessed history when Sarvesh Kushare broke the national record with a remarkable 2.31m jump, creating a memorable moment for Indian high jump.
Aadarsh Ram Opens Up About his Big Season
Speaking exclusively to myKhel, Aadarsh Ram revealed that even he did not expect such a rapid rise this season.
“This season, I didn’t expect to reach this level. The qualification marks I was targeting for the Commonwealth Games and Asian Games were 2.22m and 2.19m, but achieving a personal best of 2.27m was surprising.”
The 28-year-old athlete credited his improved technique and speed work behind his remarkable progress. “I worked a bit on my technique this time. My run-up still needs improvement, but my coach mainly focused on improving my technique and speed. That helped me increase my speed and improve my performance.”
The Pressure of Jumping Alongside a National Record Holder
At the Inter State Championships, Aadarsh competed alongside India’s new national record holder Sarvesh Kushare, who cleared 2.31m.
For Aadarsh, competing with one of India’s best high jumpers was both inspiring and challenging. “At the Interstate Championships, I felt a lot of pressure because I was aiming to break the national record. I was in good shape and believed I was capable of clearing 2.30m,” he said.
He admitted that Sarvesh’s incredible performance added extra pressure. “When Sarvesh jumped before me and cleared the height on his first attempt with a huge margin, it created pressure. Any high jumper would feel that kind of pressure.”
However, Aadarsh believes he has the ability to jump higher. “I knew I was capable of jumping higher, but because of the pressure, I could not perform to my full potential that day.”
CWG Debut: Excitement, Responsibility and Medal Dream
The next big chapter in Aadarsh Ram’s career will be the Commonwealth Games, where he will compete in his first major outdoor international competition.
Facing Olympic champion Hamish Kerr and other world-class athletes does not scare him. Instead, it motivates him.
“Both, I would say. I am excited because I am competing in a global competition, but it also comes with a lot of responsibility.”
For Aadarsh, the goal is not just participation. “I have come this far not just to participate, I want to win a medal for India.”
His approach is simple, enjoy the moment and compete without unnecessary pressure. “I will not consider 2.30m to be a huge height. I will treat it as a normal height, so I will not put too much pressure on myself.”
How Reliance Foundation Changed His Training Experience
Aadarsh also spoke about the important role played by Reliance Foundation in supporting his journey. He explained how professional support helped him focus completely on his performance.
“After joining Reliance Foundation, things changed. They supported me with travel arrangements, accommodation, good food, and access to excellent physiotherapists.”
Before receiving this support, Aadarsh had to manage many things on his own.
“Earlier, I used to book my own tickets, search for accommodation near the stadium, arrange my meals, and manage everything myself. This time, I only had to focus on my competition.”
According to Aadarsh, this support has given him a new mindset. “Now I have realised that I only need to focus on my performance. I do not have to worry about anything outside the competition.”
The 2.31M Dream: Aadarsh Ram Wants to Rewrite Indian High Jump History
With his rapid improvement and growing confidence, Aadarsh has set his biggest target yet, surpassing the national record. “My goal is to perform better than the national record this season and achieve it before the end of the 2026 season.”
For Aadarsh, every day is an opportunity to improve. “I will always pray to God that I can achieve this, because every single day matters.”