Meghwal claims high jump silver; Shahnavaz earns long jump bronze at World U20s in Eugene
Basant Kumar Meghwal won silver in the men’s high jump and Shahnavaz Khan took bronze in the men’s long jump at the World Athletics U20 Championships in Eugene on Saturday, August 8, 2026, giving India two medals on the day and raising the country’s overall haul to three.
Meghwal, 19, from Anupgarh in Rajasthan’s Sri Ganganagar district, cleared a personal best of 2.21m to finish second in the high jump while representing the Indian Navy. Coached by former national record holder Sahana Kumari, he improved his season best from 2.11m to 2.21m, a 10cm gain that produced the landmark result.
Algeria’s Younes Ayachi took gold and Great Britain’s Otis Poole the bronze in the high jump; all three medallists cleared 2.21m but failed at 2.24m. Placings were determined by countback: Ayachi cleared 2.21m on his first attempt, Meghwal on his second and Poole on his third.
In the long jump final Shahnavaz, 18, posted a best of 7.84m on his third attempt to secure bronze, 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 that final and finished eighth with a top mark of 7.59m achieved on his first and fourth efforts.
Italy’s Daniele Inzoli won long jump gold with 7.97m, while Australia’s Mason McGroder took silver with a personal best of 7.96m. Shahnavaz’s podium finish came after Meghwal’s high jump success earlier on the same day, prompting the increase in India’s medal count at the meet.
India’s campaign at the championships had begun on Friday, August 7, 2026, when Ashish Yadav won silver in the men’s javelin, becoming the second Indian after Neeraj Chopra to claim a silver in the event at the World U20 Championships. Neeraj Chopra congratulated Yadav after his achievement, calling it "just the start" and expressing his pride in the young thrower.
These results occurred on the fourth and penultimate day of the World Athletics U20 Championships, and India’s medal tally at the event stands at three.