Eugene, August 9, 2026: India enjoyed a memorable day at the World Athletics U20 Championships in Eugene as Basant Kumar Meghwal and Shahnavaz Khan secured silver and bronze medals respectively, taking the country’s overall tally to three.
Meghwal created history by becoming the first Indian athlete to win a high jump medal at the World Athletics U20 Championships. The 19-year-old cleared a personal best of 2.21m to finish second in the men’s high jump final.
The athlete from Anupgarh in Rajasthan’s Sri Ganganagar district, who represents the Indian Navy, produced the performance on Saturday during the fourth day of the championships.
Meghwal Sets New Personal Best
Meghwal entered the competition having previously recorded a personal best of 2.11m this season. His clearance of 2.21m therefore represented a significant 10cm improvement.
All three medal winners managed to clear 2.21m but were unable to get over the bar at 2.24m despite having three attempts each.
Algeria’s Younes Ayachi eventually claimed the gold after clearing 2.21m on his first attempt. Meghwal secured silver by clearing the same height with his second attempt, while Great Britain’s Otis Poole needed his third attempt and finished with bronze.
The final positions were determined through countback because all three athletes had identical best heights.
Meghwal is coached by Sahana Kumari, the former Indian women’s high jump national record holder. Under her guidance, the young jumper has made rapid progress during the current season.
Shahnavaz Adds Bronze in Long Jump
India’s medal count increased later in the day when 18-year-old Shahnavaz Khan won bronze in the men’s long jump.
Khan produced his best effort of 7.84m on his third attempt. His six-jump series consisted of 7.67m, 7.72m, 7.84m, 7.52m, 7.83m and 5.37m.
Italy’s Daniele Inzoli won the gold medal after recording 7.97m, while Australia’s Mason McGroder claimed silver with a personal best of 7.96m.
The other Indian finalist, R.C. Jithin Arjunan, finished eighth. His best jump measured 7.59m, which he achieved during his first and fourth attempts.
India’s Medal Tally Reaches Three
With Meghwal’s silver and Shahnavaz’s bronze, India now have three medals at the World Athletics U20 Championships.
The country had opened its medal account a day earlier through javelin thrower Ashish Yadav, who won silver in the men’s event.
Yadav’s performance also placed him in an exclusive group, as he became only the second Indian after Neeraj Chopra to win a silver medal in javelin at the World U20 Championships.
Chopra congratulated Yadav following his achievement and described the result as “just the start” for the young Indian thrower.
With multiple athletes making their mark in Eugene, India’s campaign at the junior world championships has already turned into one of the country’s most encouraging recent performances in international athletics.
