Basant Kumar Meghwal (Image: X/@afiindia)

Indian high jumper Basant Kumar Meghwal created history by winning the silver medal in the men’s high jump at the World Athletics U20 Championships in Eugene, Oregon, on Saturday. The 19-year-old from Anupgarh in Rajasthan’s Sri Ganganagar district produced a lifetime-best effort of 2.21m to secure India’s second medal of the championships and become the country’s first high jumper to win a medal at the World Athletics U20 Championships.

Meghwal clears 2.21m for historic medal

Meghwal was involved in a closely fought battle for the podium, with all three medalists managing to clear 2.21m but failing to go beyond 2.24m. With none of the athletes able to clear 2.24m in three attempts, the medals were decided through a countback based on their attempts at the previous height.Algeria’s Younes Ayachi took the gold after clearing 2.21m on his first attempt. Meghwal secured silver by clearing the same height on his second attempt, while Great Britain’s Otis Poole had to settle for bronze after taking three attempts to clear 2.21m.

Personal best caps impressive season

The silver medal caps an impressive season for Meghwal, who continues to make rapid progress on the international stage. His 2.21m clearance was a new lifetime personal best, adding another major achievement to his season after he won gold at the Asian U20 Athletics Championships earlier this year. The performance in Eugene also underlined his potential as one of India’s promising young high jumpers.

India take medal tally to two

Meghwal’s historic silver took India’s medal tally at the World Athletics U20 Championships to two. Earlier in the competition, Ashish Yadav opened India’s account by winning a silver medal in the men’s javelin throw on the third day of the championships.

Podium finish