Jumping over hurdles to greater success — Devak is Kozhikode’s hero!

Kozhikode: Seventeen-year-old Devak Bhushan from Kozhikode has brought pride to India and his hometown by clinching a silver medal in high jump at the Under-18 Asian Athletics Championship held in Dammam, Saudi Arabia. Competing in his very first international tournament, Devak soared to a height of 2.03 metres, narrowly missing out on the gold by just 2 centimetres to a Kuwaiti athlete who cleared 2.05 metres.

“It was a moment of double joy—just the chance to represent India was incredible, and winning a medal made it even more special,” said Devak, radiating pride.

Speaking about the challenging conditions, he added, “The weather was quite poor. There was strong headwind, which made jumping difficult. I usually clear this height easily. Maybe if I had tried harder, I could’ve bagged the gold.”

Devak earned his place on the Indian team after winning a silver medal at the National Junior Championships held in Bhubaneswar. That win marked his third consecutive medal at the national level. In preparation for the Asian meet, he underwent a 15-day training stint in Bengaluru.

A student of Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Chevayur, Devak has previously excelled in various CBSE national athletics meets. Interestingly, he wasn’t always focused on sports. His coach and school physical education teacher, Dharmavratan, recognised his potential and guided him towards high jump. His belief that Devak’s height would be an advantage proved to be spot on, shaping the young boy into the rising star he is today. That belief paid off, as Devak gradually began to taste success, which in turn deepened his passion for athletics.

For Devak’s school, his achievement has become a moment of great pride. “This is an inspiring moment not only for Devak but for all our students,” said Principal Sujatha Rajagopal. “He sets a great example of hard work and determination.”

Despite his success, Devak is largely self-taught when it comes to technique. “I learnt the Fosbury Flop from YouTube about three years ago,” he admitted. “But I still haven’t mastered it. I haven’t found a specialised high jump coach, so my school coach still oversees everything, including my fitness training.”

Devak now hopes to continue his training more formally after completing his Plus Two studies. He is currently training at the Kozhikode Medical College ground and is eager to enrol in a professional training programme that offers specialised coaching in high jump.

As he returns from Saudi Arabia to a hero’s welcome, Devak Bhushan stands as a promising young athlete with sights firmly set on future glory—for himself and for Indian athletics.