Basant Kumar Meghwal won the silver medal in the men's high jump at the World Athletics U20 Championships, securing India's second medal of the competition. He cleared 2.21m, matching his lifetime best, to finish second behind Algeria's Younes Ayachi.
Ayachi also cleared 2.21m, but did so on his first attempt, while Basant needed two attempts. Great Britain's Otis Poole also finished at 2.21m, but required three attempts, giving Basant the silver on countback.
The result marks India's first silver medal in the men's high jump at the World Athletics U20 Championships. It also adds another podium finish to India's campaign at the junior global championships, after Ashish Yadav won a silver medal in Javelin throw earlier this week.
Basant's route to the medal saw him clear 2.06m on his first attempt, 2.12m on his second and 2.17m on his first before negotiating 2.21m at the second time of asking.
Basant began the final with a successful clearance at 2.06m on his opening attempt. He then needed two tries to get over 2.12m before clearing 2.17m at the first time of asking.
The bar was subsequently raised to 2.21m, where Basant initially failed to clear the height. He responded on his second attempt to match his lifetime best and put himself firmly in medal position.
At the same height, Ayachi had already cleared 2.21m on his first attempt, while Poole eventually managed the clearance with his third.
Basant's full series was:
2.06m – first attempt
2.12m – second attempt
2.17m – first attempt
2.21m – second attempt
With Ayachi, Basant and Poole all finishing with a best clearance of 2.21m, the attempts record separated the three medal winners.
Ayachi took gold after clearing the height on his first attempt. Basant's second-attempt clearance earned him silver, while Poole's third-attempt success placed him third.
The next-best clearance was 2.17m, achieved by American Maddox Krotzer, Great Britain's Samuel James and Greece's Charalampos Alivizatos.
Basant's performance delivered a landmark result for India in the men's high jump at the World Athletics U20 Championships, while his 2.21m clearance matched his personal best.
Source: India Today