Eugene, August 9, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
India secured two more medals at the U20 World Athletics Championships in Eugene, Oregon, with Basant winning silver in the men’s high jump and Shahnavaz Khan claiming bronze in the men’s long jump on Saturday.
Basant, a 19-year-old from Ganganagar, Rajasthan, cleared 2.21m to equal his personal best and become the first Indian high jumper to win a medal at a world-level athletics event.
He began his competition with successful attempts at 2.06m, 2.12m and 2.17m before clearing 2.21m. The height was also cleared by the other two podium finishers, but Basant’s performance in the earlier rounds gave him the edge on countback and secured the silver medal.
Algeria’s Younes Ayachi won gold, while Britain’s Otis Poole took bronze.
Shahnavaz then added another bronze for India in the men’s long jump with a best effort of 7.84m. His third-round jump lifted him into medal contention after he had been trailing early in the competition.
The Indian backed up that performance with another 7.83m in the fifth round to retain his place on the podium. Italy’s Inzoli won gold with 7.97m, while Australia’s McGroder secured silver with 7.96m.
The two medals took India’s tally at the championships to three, matching the country’s best-ever medal haul at the U20 World Athletics Championships, achieved in 2021. India now has an opportunity to set a new record with one day of competition remaining.
Earlier, Ashish Yadav opened India’s medal account with silver in the men’s javelin throw on Friday. The 19-year-old from Uttar Pradesh became the first Indian thrower to win a U20 World medal since Neeraj Chopra’s success in 2016.
India also advanced to the women’s 4x400m relay final, with Bhoomika Nehate, Tahura Khatun, Tanu Chaudhary and Thiya Arumugam finishing among the top three teams in their heat in 3:39.53.
Bhoomika clocked 55.81 seconds on the opening leg, followed by Tahura’s 54.54, Tanu’s 53.87 and Thiya’s 55.31. The United States won the heat in 3:32.66, followed by Australia in a season-best 3:33.68.
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