New Delhi: Indian athletics has been thriving over the past two weeks. Athletes such as Neeraj Chopra, Tejaswin Shankar, Murali Sreeshankar, and Gulveer Singh have showcased the remarkable progress of track and field competitors at the prestigious Glasgow Commonwealth Games. Meanwhile, the emerging talents are making their mark at the Under-20 World Athletics Championships taking place in Eugene, USA.
Event Context
On Saturday, Ashish Yadav secured a silver medal in javelin, setting the stage for an impressive continuation on Sunday. High jumper Basant Kumar Meghwal and long jumper Shahnavaz Khan contributed further to India’s medal tally, with Basant earning silver and Shahnavaz claiming bronze, showcasing their remarkable seasons as Navy athletes.
Basant made history by clearing 2.21m, marking him as the first Indian male or female high jumper across all age groups to win a medal at a World event. The 19-year-old matched his personal best, which he achieved in April during the National Junior Athletics Federation Competition in Bengaluru.
Basant expressed his excitement, stating, “It’s a great feeling. I have been dreaming of this medal for the past two years,” in a conversation with HT from Eugene.
In what Basant described as “ideal conditions for jumping,” he began his competition at 2.06m, successfully advancing to clear heights of 2.12m and 2.17m before attempting the 2.21m mark to clinch the medal.
All three medalists cleared 2.21m, necessitating a countback to determine the rankings. Algeria’s Younes Ayachi claimed gold after his first-attempt success at 2.21m, while Basant followed with a successful second attempt. Great Britain’s Otis Poole secured bronze, clearing the height on his third try.
Following his impressive performance, Basant won the Junior Nationals (U-18) and subsequently joined SAI Bengaluru under the Khelo India initiative in 2023. “There’s a bright future ahead of him. He stands 6’1″, has a solid technique, and is a quick learner,” noted Sahana.
Basant, inspired by watching legendary Qatari high jumper Mutaz Barshim on YouTube, believes he can eventually clear 2.27m. He commented, “I think I should be able to challenge Sarvesh (Kushare) bhaiya in 1-1.5 years,” referencing Kushare’s national record of 2.31m.
Shahnavaz, 18, also celebrated his rise in the sporting arena with a third-place finish, achieving a best leap of 7.84m and finishing behind Italy’s Daniele Leonardo Inzoli (7.97m) and Australia’s Mason McGroder (7.96m).
Player Focus
“I gained confidence in myself after hitting 8 meters last year. Since that moment, I believed I could reach 8.30 meters. Sreeshankar has played a significant role in my progress. He provides me with advice on rest and recovery, and I carefully analyze his jumps,” he shared.
Team Analysis
One year later, Basant traveled to the SAI center in Bengaluru for an entry trial, where Sahana Kumari recognized his potential. She remarked, ‘I appreciated his natural technique, though there was significant room for improvement.’ Although Basant did not qualify at that time, Sahana encouraged him to relocate to Bengaluru and train with her through the come-and-play initiative. Living in a one-room accommodation with a friend just outside the SAI facility, Basant struggled with feelings of isolation and returned home after just one month.
Match Outlook
“Despite not succeeding on my first attempt, I maintained my confidence,” Basant remarked. His coach, Sahana Kumari, a former national record holder in women’s high jump, advised him to concentrate on his execution. Knowing he had previously cleared the height at home, Basant relied on his muscle memory.
Basant’s achievement in Eugene is a testament to his consistency this season; he has stood on the podium in five out of six events. His silver medal in Eugene followed a gold medal performance at the Asian under-20 championships in Hong Kong in May, where he cleared an impressive 2.20m. Over the past year, he has increased his personal best by 10 cm, raising it from 2.11m in 2025 to 2.21m.
Originating from a farming family in Anupgarh, located in Rajasthan’s Sri Ganganagar district, Basant’s father cultivates seasonal crops such as mustard, cotton, wheat, and bajra on their small plot of land. Basant’s journey into high jumping began in a government school.
“I was quite an active child, so my physical education teacher encouraged me to explore various sports, and I found a passion for high jump,” he explained. Due to the school’s limited resources, he used a mattress from home to cushion his landings. “By the age of 15, I was already clearing 1.80m, and my teacher began entering me in inter-school competitions. I received my first proper athletic gear after winning the state school games gold medal.”
While celebrating his medal, Basant shared his frustration with his performance: “I started cramping in both calves after my third jump and injured my right heel during my fifth attempt. Without those setbacks, I believe I could have achieved 8m.”
Meanwhile, Shahnavaz, from Pratapgarh in Uttar Pradesh, trains at the SAI center in Thiruvananthapuram alongside the country’s top jumper, Murali Sreeshankar. He gained recognition last year after jumping 8.04m at the Continental Tour meet in Bhubaneswar, securing a second-place finish behind Sreeshankar.
