Exclusive: “I Knew I Was Capable Of Jumping Even Higher”: Basant Meghwal Eyes Senior Worlds After Historic U-20 Silver

For years, India's biggest moments in athletics have often come from athletes who had to fight their way into the spotlight. Basant Meghwal has now added his name to that growing list.

The 19-year-old from Anupgarh, a border town in Rajasthan's Sri Ganganagar district, produced a historic performance at the World Athletics U20 Championships in Eugene, Oregon, winning the silver medal in the men's high jump.

His 2.21m clearance not only equalled his personal best but also made Basant the first Indian high jumper to win a medal at the World U20 Championships.

It was India's third medal of the ongoing championships, following Ashish Yadav's silver in the men's javelin throw and Shahnavaz's bronze in the long jump.

Basant narrowly missed out on gold, with Algeria's Younes Ayachi taking the top spot, while Great Britain's Otis Poole won bronze. But for Indian athletics, Basant's silver represented a breakthrough moment in an event where the country had never previously stood on the World U-20 podium.

Basant's rise has been remarkable, particularly over the past year.

He entered the season with a lifetime best of 2.11m but has added an impressive 10 centimetres to that mark in 2026. He first cleared 2.21m at the Junior Federation Cup in Bengaluru in April before winning gold at the Asian U20 Athletics Championships in Hong Kong, where he cleared 2.20m.

At the World U20 Championships, he once again produced his best when it mattered most.

Basant opened his final with a first-attempt clearance of 2.06m. He needed two attempts to clear 2.12m before going over 2.17m at the first time of asking.

Then came the moment that changed the history books. Basant cleared 2.21m on his second attempt, matching his personal best and putting himself firmly in medal contention.

He could not clear 2.24m in three attempts, but his 2.21m effort was enough to secure silver on countback.
What makes Basant's achievement even more special is the humble beginning of his high-jump journey.

Speaking exclusively to myKhel, Basant revealed that he did not initially set out to become a high jumper. His journey began at his Government secondary school in Rajasthan, where a chance encounter with another student introduced him to the event.

"I am extremely happy to have won this medal. I have worked very hard for it, and what makes it even more special is that I won it with a personal best. I used to practise high jump at my school in Rajasthan with my PT teacher, Iqbal Singh. Once, I saw a boy doing high jump at my school and I felt like trying it myself. I performed well, so Iqbal sir started training me in high jump and later took me to competitions," Basant told myKhel in an exclusive interview.

That simple moment on a school ground eventually turned into a journey to the world stage.

Basant's development has also been shaped by the experience and guidance of Sahana Kumari, one of India's finest high jumpers and a former women's national record-holder.

Her guidance has played an important role in helping the young athlete make the transition from a promising jumper into an international medallist.

Basant's progression this season shows just how quickly that development has taken place. From 2.11m last season to 2.21m this year, the 10cm improvement has come in just one season.

And Basant believes there is still much more to come.

'I knew I could jump higher' His confidence was evident during the final, particularly when he cleared 2.17m and 2.21m.

"I had cleared these heights before, so I knew I could clear 2.17m and 2.21m comfortably. I knew I was capable of jumping even higher, so these heights were not a big challenge for me. The Senior World Championships are coming up next year, and I will try my best to make the Indian team," Basant said.

For a 19-year-old who has already made history at the junior level, the ambition is clear: the next target is the senior stage.

Basant's journey has not been without challenges.

He revealed that financial difficulties once made his sporting journey difficult. His situation has improved since joining the Indian Navy, but he believes more needs to be done to support athletes from Rajasthan.

"I faced financial difficulties earlier, but I don't have those problems anymore because I am now serving in the Navy. However, athletes don't get much support from Rajasthan. When we win a medal and return, they just call us for photographs. There is no prize money and not much support," Basant added.

"The Rajasthan government does provide some support to athletes, but it is not enough. Athletes win medals for the state, but there is no prize money for them."

His comments highlight an issue that goes beyond one athlete or one medal, the need for stronger and more consistent support for athletes who emerge from grassroots programmes and smaller towns.

Basant's 2.21m clearance in Eugene has now opened a new chapter for Indian high jump at the global junior level.

He arrived at the championships as a rising talent with a rapidly improving personal best. He leaves as a World U20 silver medallist and the first Indian to win a high jump medal at the competition.

His journey from watching another student jump at his school in Rajasthan, to being trained by his PT teacher, guided by Sahana Kumari and eventually standing on a World U20 podium is a reminder that sporting breakthroughs can begin in the most ordinary places.

For Basant, the bar has already risen by 10 centimetres in one season. Now, he wants to raise it even higher.