Basant wins silver in men's high jump at World Athletics U20 Championships

Basant won the silver medal in the men's high jump at the World Athletics U20 Championships on August 9, 2026. The performance produced India's first U20 World Athletics silver in the men's high jump.

Basant cleared 2.21m, matching his lifetime best, and finished second to Algeria's Younes Ayachi. The podium was decided on attempts rather than height. The result was a landmark individual performance for Basant at the junior global event.

Basant opened the final with a successful clearance at 2.06m on his first attempt. He required two attempts to clear 2.12m and then cleared 2.17m at the first time of asking. At 2.21m he failed on his opening jump but succeeded on his second attempt, moving into medal contention.

All three medalists recorded a best height of 2.21m, with Ayachi clearing the height on his first attempt, Basant on his second and Great Britain's Otis Poole on his third. The attempts record separated the trio and determined the gold, silver and bronze placings. Ayachi took gold, Basant silver and Poole bronze.

The next-best clearance in the final was 2.17m. That height was achieved by American Maddox Krotzer, Great Britain's Samuel James and Greece's Charalampos Alivizatos. Those athletes finished behind the 2.21m trio on the event leaderboard.

The silver was India's second medal of the championships. It adds another podium finish to the country's campaign at the junior global event.