India’s Dev Kumar Meena set a new national record of 5.50m in the men’s pole vault final at the Asian Games 2026 in Nagoya. However, his performance was not enough to secure a medal, as he finished seventh in a highly competitive field.

Dev produced one of the standout individual performances of the event. His clearance of 5.50m was the highest ever achieved by an Indian pole vaulter at an Asian Games.

Despite the national record, India’s pole vault campaign ended without a medal.

Dev Kumar Meena Sets National Record of 5.50m

Dev began his competition by passing 5.05m before clearing 5.20m on his second attempt.

He then cleared 5.35m on his first attempt, putting himself in a strong position to challenge higher heights.

The Indian successfully cleared 5.50m on his second attempt, setting a new national record.

The clearance improved his previous personal best and national record of 5.46m by four centimetres.

It was a significant milestone for the young vaulter and another sign of his progress in the event.

Dev Misses Out at 5.60m

After clearing 5.50m, Dev attempted to go higher.

However, he was unable to clear 5.60m after three attempts, bringing his competition to an end.

His final clearance of 5.50m secured seventh place in the men’s final.

Although the national record marked a major personal achievement, it did not translate into an Asian Games medal.

Kuldeep Kumar Also Misses the Podium

India had two athletes competing in the men’s pole vault final, with Kuldeep Kumar joining Dev in the competition.

Kuldeep could not secure a podium finish either, leaving India without a medal despite having two representatives in the final.

The result highlighted the high standard of competition in Nagoya. Dev’s 5.50m clearance was a significant performance, but the medal battle required even higher clearances.

National Record but No Asian Games Medal

For India, the headline from the men’s pole vault final was a national record without a medal.

Dev’s clearance of 5.50m showed that he continues to push the boundaries of Indian pole vaulting.

However, the result also highlighted the challenge of converting record-breaking performances into podium finishes at major championships.

India had two athletes in the final, and Dev established a new national record. Yet the medal remained out of reach.

Dev Kumar Meena leaves Nagoya with a national record of 5.50m and a seventh-place finish in the men’s pole vault final.

On the face of it, a bronze medal is merely a step on the podium. But intrinsically, Shahnavaz Khan’s recent podium finish at the World Athletics U20 Championships in Eugene, USA, is a powerful catalyst designed to jump-start the next generation of Indian long jumpers. In a sport where the country has traditionally excelled on the continent and made waves at the Commonwealth Games, anchored memorably by Murali Sreeshankar’s consecutive CWG silver medals, Khan’s feat represents a watershed moment.

While many believe Khan could have easily clinched gold had he matched his personal best, high-pressure global meets are notorious for breaking down athletes. Surviving the intensity and securing a medal at this elite world stage is Khan’s single greatest achievement.

The 18-year-old from Madhaipur village in Pratapgarh district, Uttar Pradesh, became the first Indian male long jumper to win a medal at the World Athletics U20 Championships, soaring to 7.84m. While the distance was well shy of his personal best of 8.30m recorded earlier this year, physical setbacks played spoiler.

“Normally, more the pressure, the better I do in a competition. But in Eugene, after the third jump, I started getting cramps. Then I couldn’t do it. It was cramp on muscles. This is the first time happening. I don’t understand anything,” Shahnavaz told PTI. “There was a little pain in the heel, so both the heel (pain) and cramp.”

Looking past the minor hiccup, he confirmed he will feature in the upcoming invitational Indian Athletics Final Series on September 10 in New Delhi, ahead of the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games. “My aim is to better my PB of 8.30m and win a medal,” he stated to PTI regarding his targets in Japan.

History shows that the path from junior world podiums to senior Olympic and World Championship success is a proven breeding ground for global athletics legends. International icons like Cuba’s Iván Pedroso, who won world junior gold in 1990 before claiming Olympic gold and four world titles and South Africa’s Luvo Manyonga, who transitioned from a 2009 World Junior silver to Olympic silver and world gold, underline how foundational these junior events are.

On the home front, Khan’s journey mirrors the surging depth of Indian long jumping, transforming from isolated excellence into a sustained pipeline. Mentored by senior trailblazer Murali Sreeshankar, who shares training spaces with him, Khan joins an elite domestic vanguard alongside national record holder Jeswin Aldrin (8.42m) and women’s junior trailblazer Shaili Singh. Sitting comfortably third in the all-time Indian senior list with his 8.30m personal best and having already breached the Asian Games qualification mark, Khan’s journey from Pratapgarh to world junior history proves that India’s long jump revolution is a sustained movement.

Shahnavaz Khan has soared to a brilliant bronze medal for India in the men’s long jump at the World Athletics U20 Championships 2026, delivering another big moment for the country’s rising athletics stars.

The Indian jumper produced a superb 7.84m on his third attempt to secure the podium, saving his biggest leap for when it mattered most.

Shahnavaz opened with 7.67m before improving to 7.72m in his second attempt. He then unleashed his best effort of 7.84m in the third round. His remaining jumps measured 7.52m, 7.83m and 5.37m.

It was a fiercely competitive final, with the gold and silver medals decided by just 1cm. Yet the biggest mark of the contest was that not a single athlete managed to breach the eight-metre barrier.

Italy’s Daniele Inzoli won gold with 7.97m, while Australia’s Mason McGroder took silver with 7.96m. Shahnavaz’s 7.84m earned him a well-deserved bronze.

The medal is India’s third at these championships and the second of the day.

Earlier, Basant delivered a sensational silver in the men’s high jump, matching his lifetime best of 2.21m.

Two medals in a day. Three medals at the championships.

And another young Indian jumper making his mark on the world stage.

Basant delivered a breakthrough performance on the world junior stage, winning silver in the men’s high jump at the World Athletics U20 Championships and matching his lifetime best of 2.21m.

The young Indian high jumper showed composure under pressure throughout the competition, clearing 2.06m on his first attempt, 2.12m on his second and 2.17m on his first before producing his best when it mattered most — clearing 2.21m on his second attempt.

The clearance equalled Basant’s lifetime best and secured India its second medal of the championships.

It was an exceptionally tight contest at the top. Algeria’s Younes Ayachi, Basant and USA’s Otis Poole all cleared 2.21m, meaning the medals had to be decided on countback.

Ayachi took gold, Basant claimed silver and Poole finished with bronze, with the order determined by the number of attempts taken at the earlier heights.

Basant’s progression:

2.06m – first attempt
2.12m – second attempt
2.17m – first attempt
2.21m – second attempt

For Basant, the silver is a major moment on the international stage and a strong statement of his potential in Indian high jump.

India will have two representatives in the men’s long jump final at the World Athletics U20 Championships after Shahnavaz Khan and Jithin Arjuna both secured their places among the top 12 qualifiers.

Shahnavaz produced the more comfortable qualification, finishing 5th overall with a best jump of 7.73m. He saved his best for his third and final attempt, moving into a qualifying position after opening with 7.51m and fouling his second jump.

The 7.73m effort placed Shahnavaz 4th in his qualification group and safely inside the top 12 overall.

Jithin, meanwhile, had to wait until the very end of qualification to secure his place. After recording identical jumps of 7.43m in his first two attempts, he delivered a crucial 7.57m on his final attempt.

That effort initially left him 6th in his group and 11th overall, but his qualification depended on the remaining athletes in the other group. Once all attempts were completed, Jithin held on to 12th place overall, taking the final qualifying spot.

The automatic qualification mark was 7.75m, but with fewer than 12 athletes reaching that distance, the remaining places were decided on the basis of the best overall performances.

Italy’s Daniele Inzoli was the standout performer in qualification and the only athlete across both groups to break the eight-metre barrier. He topped the standings with an impressive 8.15m.

India’s K. Ambriesh saw his campaign come to an end in the men’s high jump qualification at the World Athletics U20 Championships 2026, narrowly missing out on a place in the final.

Competing in a highly competitive qualification round, Ambriesh produced a best clearance of 2.05m before being unable to progress further. He successfully cleared 2.05m, but could not negotiate 2.10m, falling short in all three attempts at the height.

The Indian youngster ultimately finished 12th in his qualification group, ending his challenge before the medal round.

Athletes were required to either clear the automatic qualifying height of 2.21m or finish among the 12 best performers across both qualification groups to secure a place in the final. However, Ambriesh’s clearance of 2.05m was not enough to earn one of the qualifying positions.

The qualification competition proved to be particularly challenging, with athletes battling for limited spots in the final through both clearances and countback. Despite a determined effort, Ambriesh was unable to improve on his best mark and bowed out at the qualification stage.

While his campaign ended earlier than hoped, competing at the World Athletics U20 Championships provided the young Indian high jumper with valuable international experience against some of the world’s leading junior athletes. Such exposure is an important step in the development of emerging talents as they prepare for future continental and global competitions.

Although Ambriesh’s journey concluded in the qualification round, India still has representation in the men’s high jump final through Basant, who earlier secured qualification with a clearance of 2.14m to finish 11th overall.

With the focus now shifting to the final, the Indian camp will look to build on Basant’s qualification while Ambriesh takes away valuable experience from his first appearance at the World Athletics U20 Championships.

India received its first positive result of the day at the World Athletics U20 Championships 2026 as Basant booked his place in the men’s high jump final with a composed performance in the qualification round.

Basant cleared a best height of 2.14m to finish fifth in his qualification group and 11th overall, earning one of the 12 places available in the final. His consistent jumping and ability to clear crucial heights with minimal attempts proved decisive in a closely contested qualification competition.

The Indian youngster enjoyed an impressive series, beginning with a first-attempt clearance at 2.00m, before comfortably negotiating 2.05m and 2.10m, both on his first attempt. He then cleared 2.14m on his second attempt, a jump that ultimately secured his progression to the medal round.

Basant’s Qualification Series:

• 2.00m – Cleared on first attempt
• 2.05m – Cleared on first attempt
• 2.10m – Cleared on first attempt
• 2.14m – Cleared on second attempt

Interestingly, no athlete across either qualification group managed to clear the automatic qualifying height of 2.21m. As a result, qualification was determined by the athletes’ performances and countback, with 2.14m proving sufficient to secure a place among the top 12 finalists.

Basant’s composed display under championship conditions reflects his consistency and ability to deliver when qualification was at stake. Clearing three successive heights on the first attempt gave him a valuable advantage before his successful effort at 2.14m ensured his place in the final.

With qualification secured, Basant will now turn his attention to the medal round, where he will compete against the world’s best junior high jumpers. His performance in the qualifying competition provides a solid foundation as he looks to produce another strong display in the final and challenge for a place among the leading finishers at the World Athletics U20 Championships.

India’s P. Royshan and Dhanush Raj were unable to secure places in the men’s triple jump final at the World Athletics U20 Championships 2026, bringing the country’s campaign in the event to an end.

Competing in a strong qualification round featuring some of the world’s best junior jumpers, both Indian athletes fell short of the marks required to progress to the medal round. P. Royshan finished 25th overall, while Dhanush Raj placed 34th overall in the combined qualification standings.

Athletes needed to achieve the automatic qualifying standard of 16.00m or finish among the best 12 performers across both qualification groups to advance to the final. Despite their efforts, neither Indian jumper was able to meet the qualifying criteria.

The qualification round was topped by USA’s Miles Nesmith, who produced a personal best of 16.41m to comfortably surpass the automatic qualification mark and finish first overall heading into the final. Several other athletes also cleared the required standard or advanced based on their overall rankings to complete the 12-member final field.

Although Royshan and Dhanush Raj were unable to progress, competing at the World Athletics U20 Championships provided both athletes with valuable experience against the strongest junior triple jumpers in the world. The championships continue to serve as an important platform for young athletes to gain exposure at the highest international level and measure themselves against elite global competition.

The result concludes India’s participation in the men’s triple jump at the 2026 edition of the championships. Attention will now shift to the remaining Indian athletes still in action across track and field events, with several medal opportunities and qualification rounds yet to come in Eugene.

While the triple jump campaign ends in the qualification stage, India’s young athletes will look to build on the experience gained and continue their development in future international competitions.