Oxford triple jump star Nathan Douglas hopes the confidence gleaned from his spectacular silver medal-winning performance in Birmingham can pay dividends on the world stage this summer.

In an exhilarating competition at a packed National Indoor Arena on Saturday, Douglas produced a magnificent competitive performance, finishing just nine centimetres adrift of countryman and gold medallist Phillips Idowu.

The Oxford City AC athlete recorded the three longest jumps of his indoor career, responding superbly to the challenge laid down by Idowu, the Commonwealth champion, who landed an enormous first round leap of 17.56m.

The New Hinksey jumper said: "I really enjoyed myself out there. It was a great series. I think it was just one of those days when everything seemed to be working really well.

"I didn't make any major technical changes. It was just a case of co-ordinating a few bits and pieces.

"It was a good competition between two world-class jumpers."

Douglas, 24, went into the championships in a confident frame of mind after leading the qualifiers with a leap of 16.96m and took an early first round lead in the final with 17.08m - within 11cm of his lifetime best indoors.

But two jumps later Idowu laid down the gauntlet with his spectacular first-round effort.

However, Douglas, who won the European outdoor silver medal last summer, refused to fold and responded in glorious fashion.

"I don't think because it was Phillips who jumped far it spurred me on any more than any other athlete," he explained.

"My reaction was when he put in a big one, I've just got to go and get it'."

In round two he added three centimetres to his indoor personal best with 17.22m before improving to 17.47m with his third jump.

He was given a red flag, after what looked like a massive jump, with his fourth attempt and maintained his wonderful consistency with 17.41m in round five, before a final-round foul.

However, although the Oxford man was justifiably proud of his performance he insisted it was not quite the highlight of his career. Thinking long and hard about whether Birmingham represented the high point of his career he said: "It's close. "But probably the highlight was jumping 16.95m at the Olympic trials and making the Olympic team in 2004. I was younger then and that was a dream come true."

The competition was weakened by the late withdrawal of Sweden's Olympic champion Christian Olsson.

But after starring on the European stage, Douglas hopes to make an impact at this summer's World Championships in Osaka.

"This has given me a lot more confidence," he added.

"In late 2005 I had an injury and it took a while for me to find my feet again last year. Let's just hope I stay physically fit and strong for the year ahead."