J Aadarsh Ram wins bronze medal in high jump at Asian Indoor Athletics Championship

J Aadarsh Ram opened India’s medal account at the Asian Indoor Athletics Championships 2026 with a bronze in men’s high jump at Tianjin, People’s Republic of China, on Friday.

Competing at the Tuanbo Sports Centre Athletic Arena, the 28-year-old Indian athlete cleared a height of 2.19m on his third attempt to secure his first continental medal in track and field events.

Aadarsh, whose outdoor personal best stands at 2.21m, made three attempts at 2.23m but could not clear the bar.

Japan swept the top two positions, with Yuto Seko, silver medallist at the 2024 Asian Indoor Championships in Tehran, taking gold with a 2.23m clearance. Asian Games 2023 bronze medallist Tomohiro Shinno claimed silver after clearing 2.19m on his first attempt.

Tejaswin Shankar, who holds India’s outdoor national record of 2.29m in high jump, is contesting the indoor heptathlon event in Tianjin.

In men’s triple jump, Praveen Chithravel, who holds the outdoor national record of 17.37m in the event, finished fourth with an effort of 16.22m. He was competing for the first time since the 2025 World Athletics Championships in September last year.

Elsewhere, India’s Manikanta Hoblidhar saw his campaign end abruptly. Running in the 60m race, he was disqualified for a false start.

India have sent a 17-member squad – nine men and eight women – to the Tianjin meet, which concludes on February 8. Tajinderpal Singh Toor, a two-time defending champion in men’s shot put, will be in action on the final day.

(Source: Olympics.com)