Kuldeep Kumar rises above Dev Meena and Reegan Ganesh to script historic national record in pole vault

Indian pole vault witnessed a landmark day in Bhubaneswar as Kuldeep Kumar produced the performance of his career to clear 5.41m and set a new national record in the men’s pole vault at the Indian Indoor Open Combined Events and Pole Vault Competition.

In a competition that had already built anticipation because of the presence of national record holder Dev Meena and rapidly rising vaulter Reegan Ganesh, it was Kuldeep who stole the spotlight with a stunning progression that confirmed his emergence as the new face of Indian pole vault. The 5.41m clearance was not only a national record but also a personal best for Kuldeep, who remarkably achieved two personal bests during the same competition. He later attempted 5.46m in pursuit of an even bigger mark but narrowly fell short.

Still, the damage had already been done.

Indian pole vault has a new benchmark. What made the achievement even more impressive was the trajectory leading into the competition. Kuldeep began his 2026 season with a personal best of 5.25m at the Indian Open Jumps competition. He repeated the same mark in his following outing at the Indian Open Athletics Series 2, showing consistency but not necessarily hinting at the kind of breakthrough that arrived in Bhubaneswar.

Then came the explosion.

First, Kuldeep cleared 5.35m to move into new territory. Soon after, he raised the bar again and successfully crossed 5.41m, surpassing Dev Meena’s previous national record and completing one of the biggest jumps in progression seen in Indian pole vault in recent years. A 16cm improvement in a single phase of the season is massive in pole vault terms, especially once an athlete crosses the 5.20m barrier where every centimetre becomes increasingly difficult to gain.

And that is why this performance has generated such excitement within Indian athletics circles. The competition itself turned into a high-quality three-way battle between the country’s best vaulters. Dev Meena, the previous national record holder, cleared 5.20m on his second attempt and looked firmly in contention early in the event. Reegan Ganesh, meanwhile, continued his excellent recent form by clearing 5.25m on his very first attempt.

Reegan had entered the competition with confidence after recently becoming India’s second-best pole vaulter historically through a 5.35m personal best at the Indian Athletics Series-1 in Bengaluru.

https://www.indiasportshub.com/articles/dev-meena-comes-close-to-national-record-as-indian-pole-vault-shows-promising-depth

The stage was therefore perfectly set. Three Indian vaulters competing above 5.20m in the same event represented an important sign for the discipline’s growth in the country. Until recently, Indian pole vault had struggled with depth beyond a single top athlete. Bhubaneswar showed a completely different picture.

As the bar rose higher, the pressure intensified. Reegan attempted 5.35m but could not clear the height, while Kuldeep looked increasingly composed with each jump. His rhythm, speed during approach and confidence at take-off all stood out as he kept raising the standard.

Then came the defining moment. Kuldeep cleared 5.41m to spark celebrations and officially enter Indian athletics history books as the new national record holder. The significance of the performance extends beyond just the record itself.

Indian athletics has traditionally produced stronger results in throwing events, middle-distance races and selected jumps disciplines, but pole vault has often lacked sustained international-level progression. The emergence of multiple vaulters now consistently operating beyond 5.20m changes that conversation significantly. Kuldeep’s rise also reflects the increasing competitiveness within domestic athletics.

Healthy internal rivalry often becomes the biggest driver of progress in technical events like pole vault. The presence of athletes like Dev Meena and Reegan Ganesh appears to have elevated the standard across the board, pushing all three athletes to greater heights. For Kuldeep personally, the result marks a major breakthrough moment.

The University Games champion had already established himself as a promising talent, but national records alter perception entirely. He is no longer simply a developing athlete he now becomes the standard bearer for Indian pole vault moving forward.

What stands out most is the speed of his progression. Consistency at 5.25m early in the season showed stability. But the leap from 5.25m to 5.41m within weeks indicates both technical improvement and growing confidence. Pole vault is among the most technically demanding events in athletics, requiring precision in approach, timing, body control and mental composure.

Kuldeep displayed all of it in Bhubaneswar. The fact that he immediately attempted 5.46m after setting the national record also underlined his mindset. Rather than being satisfied with the record, he looked eager to push even higher.

That mentality could prove crucial as Indian athletics begins looking ahead toward major continental and global competitions. For now, though, Bhubaneswar belonged to Kuldeep Kumar.

A new national record, two personal bests in the same competition and victories over the country’s two biggest pole vault names it was the kind of performance that announces the arrival of a genuine new star.