India, Sept. 15 -- Sarvesh Anil Kushare on Sunday became the first Indian to qualify for high jump final at the World Athletics Championships while national record holder Gulveer Singh finished 16th in the 10,000m race with a below-par performance here.

The 30-year-old Kushare, who made it to the showpiece at the 34th spot among 36 competing athletes through world ranking quota, scaled 2.25m to finish joint seventh in Group B of the qualification round. He ended at joint ninth in the overall rankings across two groups.

Those who touched the automatic qualifying mark of 2.30m or at least 12 best made it to the final round to be held on Tuesday. Kushare has a personal best of 2.27m, which he had recorded way back in 2022, and a season bes...