09 August,2026 06:30 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Basant Kumar Meghwal (Pic: X/@TheKhelIndia)
In the World Athletics U20 Championships, Basant Kumar Meghwal Basant Kumar Meghwal scripted history by becoming the first Indian to win a medal in the high jump event. Meanwhile, Shahnavaz Khan clinched a bronze medal in the long jump event.
Meghwal, a 19-year-old athlete from Anupgarh, a border town in Rajasthan's Sri Ganganagar district, cleared a personal-best of 2.21m to win the silver in the men's high jump. Representing the Indian Navy, he produced the landmark performance on the fourth and penultimate day of the championships.
Algeria's Younes Ayachi bagged the gold medal, while Great Britain's Otis Poole bagged a bronze medal.
All the three athletes managed to clear 2.21m, but did not succeed in sailing over 2.24m in any of their three attempts.
The Algerian cleared 2.21m in his first attempt while Meghwal and Poole cleared the distance in their second and third attempts, respectively.
Meghwal has been trained by former Indian women's high jump national record holder Sahana Kumari. Earlier, his personal best was 2.11m, and Meghwal has improved by 10cm, showcasing a new best of 2.21m.
Meanwhile, Shahnavaz Khan secured a bronze medal in the men's long jump by displaying a best effort of 7.84m. With this, India's medal tally increased to three in the championships.
Khan took his third attempt to showcase his best jump, with his series reading 7.67m, 7.72m, 7.84m, 7.52m, 7.83m and 5.37m.
R.C. Jithin Arjunan was the other Indian in the final, finishing eighth with a best jump of 7.59m that he achieved in his first and fourth attempts.
Italy's Daniele Inzoli won the gold medal with a jump of 7.97m, while Australia's Mason McGroder took the silver with a personal best of 7.96m.
India's medal campaign at the championships had begun on Friday when Ashish Yadav won silver in the men's javelin throw.
He became only the second Indian after Neeraj Chopra to win a silver medal in the javelin at the World U20 Championships. Chopra congratulated Yadav for his achievement, calling it "just the start" and expressing his pride in the young thrower.
(With PTI Inputs)
