India’s Dev Kumar Meena set a new national record in men’s pole vault by clearing 5.50m at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games on September 29, improving his previous mark of 5.46m set in Bhubaneswar in June. The 21-year-old Madhya Pradesh athlete cleared 5.50m on his second attempt but could not negotiate 5.60m in three attempts, finishing seventh in the 12-athlete final and outside the medal positions.
His performance nevertheless marked another step in a rapid progression that has seen him repeatedly raise India’s national benchmark in the event during 2026.
Record Keeps Rising
Meena entered the Asian Games final as the national record holder after clearing 5.46m at the 65th National Inter-State Senior Athletics Championships in Bhubaneswar in June. That mark had surpassed the 5.45m record he had shared with training partner Kuldeep Kumar after both cleared the height at the National Senior Athletics Federation Competition in Ranchi in May. The Athletics Federation of India confirmed that Meena won gold in Ranchi on countback, with both athletes recording 5.45m.
At the Asian Games, Meena progressed through 5.20m and 5.35m before clearing 5.50m. He then attempted 5.60m three times without success. Kuldeep, India’s other competitor in the event, finished 10th with a best clearance of 5.35m. Meena’s latest effort also came after he finished fourth at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow with a 5.30m clearance.
From Sprinting To Vault
Meena’s journey into pole vault began after he initially trained as a sprinter in his village in Dewas district, Madhya Pradesh. In 2021, coach Ghanshyam Yadav persuaded him to switch to pole vault and began training him at the Tatya Tope Academy in Bhopal. The change soon produced results, with Meena developing into one of India’s leading young pole vaulters.
In 2024, Meena won bronze at the Asian U20 Championships in Dubai with a 5.10m clearance, and he also won gold at the Senior National Federation Cup. He competed at the 2024 World U20 Championships in Lima. In February 2025, he cleared 5.32m at the National Games in Dehradun, winning gold and breaking both the national and Games records. His record progression continued in 2026, first to 5.45m at the Federation Cup, then 5.46m in Bhubaneswar and now 5.50m at the Asian Games.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
Dev Meena’s journey illustrates how sporting careers can change when young talent receives the right coaching and opportunities. His move from sprinting to pole vault, followed by medals at junior level, a National Games record and successive national records, reflects a steady progression rather than a single breakthrough. While his Asian Games campaign ended without a medal, the 5.50m clearance gives Indian athletics a new national benchmark to build on.
As more young athletes enter specialised sporting disciplines, what can be done to provide them with the coaching, facilities and long-term support needed to keep progressing?
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