Indian Pole Vaulters Break National Record Twice in One Day

Watch two friends try to outjump each other, and you might witness something extraordinary happen not once, but twice in a single afternoon.

At India's Federation Cup athletics meet, pole vaulters Dev Meena and Kuldeep Yadav turned Day Three into an unforgettable showcase. The two athletes, who train together every day at the Madhya Pradesh Academy, broke India's national pole vault record twice and equalled it once more.

Meena struck first, clearing 5.42 meters to edge past the existing record by just one centimeter. Minutes later, Kuldeep soared over 5.45 meters to reclaim the top spot.

Not to be outdone, Meena matched the 5.45-meter mark to share bragging rights with his training partner. Both attempted 5.50 meters but came up short, leaving that milestone for another day.

Meena ultimately won gold on a tiebreaker because his second-best jump was higher. But for these two athletes, the real victory was pushing each other to new heights.

"It is a privilege to compete together," Meena said after the event. "We have been competing since we were kids, since we used to jump 4.50 or 4.60 meters."

The duo has improved India's national record three times this year alone. Their coach, Ghanshyam Yadav, said the friendly competition drives both athletes forward.

"Dev is speedy while Kuldeep is a power vaulter," Ghanshyam explained. "Both are of the same age and I find it easy to instruct them together."

The Ripple Effect

This isn't just a story about two talented athletes. It's evidence of a growing wave in Indian pole vaulting that's lifting the entire sport.

"We are seeing so many kids who are doing 5.20 meters at the junior level," Ghanshyam said. "Earlier, this was not the case."

For years, India's national record sat at 5.30 meters. Now young vaulters are regularly surpassing that mark, inspired by watching athletes like Dev and Kuldeep push boundaries.

The athletes credit each other for their improvement. Dev admires Kuldeep's competitive mindset, while Kuldeep appreciates Dev's technical precision.

Both have qualified for the Commonwealth Games, though selection committees will decide who represents India. Regardless of who competes internationally, their partnership at home is already changing Indian athletics.

When competition brings out the best in everyone, everybody wins.