India finished 27th among 147 countries at the World Under-20 Athletics Championships, which concluded in Oregon on August 9. The United States topped the medal tally at the marquee event.
India returned with three medals – two silver and one bronze – with and emerging as the standout performers.
Ashish, who hails from Mirzapur in Uttar Pradesh, won silver in the men’s javelin throw with an effort of 74.09m. His medal made him the first Indian since Neeraj Chopra in 2018 to win a javelin throw medal at the U20 Athletics Championships.
Basant, who hails from Anupgarh in Rajasthan’s Sri Ganganagar district, also secured a silver medal, finishing second in the men’s high jump with a clearance of 2.21m. The 19-year-old 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.
Shahnavaz Khan completed India’s medal haul with bronze in the men’s long jump. He produced an effort of 7.84m to finish third.
India had sent a 36-member contingent, comprising 23 men and 13 women, to compete across 18 categories at the Championships.
Hosts USA dominated the medal tally with 24 medals, while Kenya finished second with 11 medals. Italy occupied third place with five medals.
World Athletics U-20 Championships 2026 Medal Table
- United States – Gold: 12, Silver: 7, Bronze: 5, Total: 18
- Kenya – Gold: 4, Silver: 3, Bronze: 4, Total: 11
- Italy – Gold: 3, Silver: 0, Bronze: 2, Total: 5
- Jamaica – Gold: 2, Silver: 3, Bronze: 3, Total: 8
- Australia – Gold: 2, Silver: 3, Bronze: 1, Total: 6
- Ethiopia – Gold: 2, Silver: 3, Bronze: 1, Total: 6
- France – Gold: 2, Silver: 2, Bronze: 2, Total: 6
- PR of China – Gold: 2, Silver: 1, Bronze: 2, Total: 5
- Czechia – Gold: 2, Silver: 1, Bronze: 1, Total: 4
- South Africa – Gold: 1, Silver: 3, Bronze: 4, Total: 8
27th India – Gold: 0, Silver: 2, Bronze: 1, Total: 3