Pooja Singh breaks 14-year-old national record, wins Asian U-20 high jump gold in Hong Kong

India’s Pooja Singh, a second-year Bachelor of Physical Education and Sports student at Lovely Professional University (LPU), won gold at the Asian U-20 Athletics Championships 2026 in Hong Kong with a record-breaking 1.93-meter high jump. The achievement ended a 14-year national record drought and qualified her for the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. Singh surpassed her previous best of 1.89 meters, which had earned her gold at the 2025 Asian Championships in South Korea. Now 19, she holds multiple Indian records across age groups, including Under-17, Junior, Under-20, and Senior categories. Her dominance extends to victories in the Khelo India Youth Games, Khelo India University Games, and All India Inter-University Games. Born in Haryana’s Fatehabad district, Singh overcame humble beginnings—her father works as a daily wage earner—to become one of India’s top athletes. She credits LPU’s training infrastructure, coaching, and competitive exposure for her rapid progress, allowing her to compete globally at a young age. LPU’s Founder Chancellor, Dr. Ashok Kumar Mittal, praised Singh’s accomplishment as a testament to hard work and discipline. The university’s Edu-Revolution framework supports athletes with academic flexibility, scholarships, and performance-based aid, fostering excellence in sports alongside education. Singh’s success adds to LPU’s legacy of producing Olympians and international medallists. Her journey reflects resilience, with Singh breaking barriers in Indian athletics. The record-breaking performance not only cements her place among Asia’s elite but also inspires future generations to pursue sporting greatness.