Singapore’s Viresh Kumar cleared 2.00m to win bronze in the U20 boys’ high jump at the 18th SEA U18 & U20 Athletics Championships, equalling his personal best at his third and last appearance at the regional youth meet.

The event was held at the National Athletics Centre in Thailand, and Singapore Athletics announced the result. Viresh said four athletes took part in the event and, once he had cleared 1.88m, he began to sense that a podium place was within reach.

“To end my SEA Youth Championship journey with a bronze medal and a personal best was incredibly meaningful,” Viresh told ToughASIA.

He had cleared 1.95m in international competition before, and 2.00m was a mark he had been chasing. He said matching it against some of the region’s best athletes gave him confidence.

“It reminded me that progress is not always about making huge improvements overnight, but about consistently working towards small milestones until they eventually become reality,” he said.

His build-up was not smooth. In the months before the championships, he had a few episodes of shoulder dislocation as well as recurring lower back pain, and he was also fitting his training around National Service.

“High jump requires a great deal of explosiveness, power and elasticity in the legs, so maintaining these qualities while managing my responsibilities in the army was something I had to work particularly hard on,” he said.

He said the support of his commanders, his coach and the people around him helped him get through those challenges.

Viresh, who came through Victoria Junior College before moving on to Wings Athletics Club and Team Singapore, said he put more weight on strength and conditioning in the gym for this championship and spent considerable time refining his technique.

Before the 2.00m attempt, his coach reminded him to be patient in the air, keep his speed consistent through the run-up and not overthink the jump.

Viresh had competed at the same venue twice before, at the SEA Youth Championships in 2023 and the Thai Open in 2025, and said knowing the venue helped him feel more settled.

He had also competed at several international competitions without winning a medal before this one.

“Being able to finally taste success at this SEA Youth Championship, and stand on the podium with a bronze medal, was an incredibly special feeling,” he said.

His next target is to clear 2.10m, which he described as an ambitious goal. He also named the 2027 SEA Games as an event he would love to work towards, while saying the qualifying standard of 2.19m is a significant challenge and he still has a long way to go.

“Ultimately, I hope to continue progressing as an athlete and, hopefully, earn the opportunity to represent Singapore at the SEA Games in the future,” he said.