10/08/2026
Shahnavaz Khan has made history for Indian athletics. The 18-year-old long jumper from Uttar Pradesh won bronze in the men’s long jump at the World Athletics U20 Championships in Eugene, Oregon, with a best effort of 7.84 metres. The medal makes him the first Indian man to win a long-jump medal at the World Athletics U20 Championships. The result adds another milestone to a remarkable 2026 for Khan. Earlier this year, he broke Murali Sreeshankar’s U20 national record with an 8.23m jump at the National Junior U20 Federation Competition. He also won gold at the Asian U20 Championships. Behind the athlete’s rise is a deeply personal journey. Khan lost his father, Naseemudin, to illness when he was around 10. In 2025, before producing an 8.04m personal best, he wrote “8+ jump, I miss dad” on his bib. His bronze in Oregon is therefore more than a medal. It marks a historic step for Indian men’s long jump and another chapter in the rise of a young athlete who is only beginning to make his mark. Shahnvazpathankhan [Shahnavaz Khan, World Athletics U20 Championships, long jump, India athletics, U20 bronze, Eugene Oregon, The Logical Indian]
