Basant, Shahnavaz win jump medals at U20 Worlds

Ashish Yadav’s silver in javelin on Saturday was followed by the double delight on Sunday with high jumper Basant Kumar Meghwal and long jumper Shahnavaz Khan boosting India’s medal tally. Basant won silver and Shahnavaz bronze, the Navymen extending their excellent breakout seasons.

Basant cleared 2.21m to become the first Indian high jumper, male or female of any age-group, to win a World event. The 19-year-old also equalled his personal best that he achieved in April at the National Junior Athletics Federation Competition in Bengaluru.

“It’s a great feeling. I have been dreaming of this medal for the past two years,” he told HT from Eugene.