Baranica Elangovan Shatters Pole Vault Record at National Indoor Athletics Championships
Synopsis
In a stunning display of athletic prowess, Tamil Nadu’s Baranica Elangovan sets a new national record of 4.22m in pole vault at the National Indoor Athletics Championships in Bhubaneswar, making history on the event's opening day.
Key Takeaways
Baranica Elangovan sets a new national pole vault record of 4.22m .
Sarun Payasingh wins gold in men's long jump with a personal best of 7.80m .
The championships are taking place at the Indoor Stadium in Bhubaneswar .
The event serves as a preparation for athletes ahead of the Glasgow Commonwealth Games .
Hosted by Odisha, the championships mark a significant event in Indian athletics history.
Bhubaneswar, March 24 (NationPress) The spotlight was on Baranica Elangovan, a 29-year-old international pole vaulter from Tamil Nadu, as she made history on the inaugural day of the National Indoor Athletics Championships at the Indoor Stadium in Bhubaneswar by establishing a new national record on Tuesday.
Baranica successfully cleared 4.22m, surpassing the previous national record of 4.21m, which was held by Rosy Meena Paulraj since 2022 in Bengaluru.
“It’s a wonderful day for me to see my name in the record books,” a thrilled Baranica expressed during her post-event remarks. “I’ve been striving to break the 4.20m barrier for a while, and Tuesday proved to be my lucky moment.”
Though she aimed for an even higher mark of 4.25m, she was unable to clear it.
In a separate thrilling contest, the men’s long jump saw a fierce competition between Praveen Chithravel from Tamil Nadu, representing JSW, and Sarun Payasingh from Odisha.
Ultimately, it was Payasingh, aged 25, who took home the gold medal in the men’s long jump after achieving a remarkable distance of 7.80m, marking a personal best.
The newly crowned champion from Odisha expressed his joy at winning gold in front of a local audience. “My primary goal at this National Indoor event was to better my personal record, and I’m glad I achieved it,” said Payasingh, who transitioned from football to long jump.
Payasingh began his competition with no recorded marks but soared to 7.80m on his second attempt, securing his victory. His third and fourth attempts resulted in no marks, while his fifth jump registered 7.69m, and his final jump was 7.79m. He mentioned a recent change in his jumping technique that has yielded positive results. “I feel I’m on the right path,” he added.
Previously, Payasingh’s best jump of 7.78m was noted during the Indian Open Jumps Competition in Bengaluru.
Among the competitors in the men’s long jump was Praveen Chithravel, an international athlete from Tamil Nadu, who is recognized as the national record holder in the triple jump. He participated in the long jump to gain valuable experience indoors. “It was a fruitful experience for me here in Bhubaneswar,” Chithravel remarked.
Chithravel kicked off his performance with a jump of 7.32m, followed by 7.78m in his second attempt, and 7.55m in his third. His primary focus lies on the upcoming 29th National Senior Athletics Federation Competition in Ranchi, scheduled for May 22 to 25.
This competition in Ranchi holds significance as it serves as a qualification event for the Glasgow Commonwealth Games, taking place from July 23 to August 2.
Earlier, the inaugural event was officially opened by Odisha’s Sports and Youth Services Minister Suraj Suryabanshi, who hailed the National Indoor Athletics Championships as a landmark event for Indian athletics. “Hosting the 2028 World Athletics Indoor Championships in Bhubaneswar will further establish Odisha as the Sports Capital of India,” he remarked.
Results (day one):
Men: 800m: Mohammed Afsal (Air Force) 1:47.86 seconds, Kalyan JR (Karnataka) 1:53.98 seconds, Sayan Karmakar (West Bengal) 1:56.98 seconds.
Men: U20: 800m: Lokesh Magendhiran (Tamil Nadu) 1:53.92 seconds, Rajdip Pal (West Bengal) 2:02.34 seconds.
Men: 3,000m: Shivaji Parashuram (Reliance) 8:09.88 seconds, Vinod Singh (Madhya Pradesh) 8:16.93 seconds, Rahul Kumar Verma (Chhattisgarh) 8:18.21 seconds.
Men: 60m hurdles: Krishik M (Karnataka) 7.71 seconds, Rathish P (Reliance) 7.84 seconds, Muhammed Lazan (JSW) 8.00 seconds.
Men: Long jump: Sarun Payasingh (Odisha) 7.80m, Praveen Chithravel (JSW) 7.78m, David P (Railway) 7.69m.
Men: Shot put: Ravi Kumar (BSF) 17.17m, Adhish Ghildiyal (Uttarakhand) 16.92m, Balaji (Tamil Nadu) 16.74m.
Men: U20: Shot put: Ommkar Prasad Nand (Odisha) 17.77m, SAI Kiran A (NCOE Patiala) 17.00m, Harshit Gahlot (JSW) 16.98m.
Women: 3,000m: Priyanka C (Karnataka) 9:42.05 seconds, Kajal Rangnath (Gujarat) 9:44.01 seconds, Sushmita Tigga (Odisha) 10:22.30 seconds.
Women: Shot put: Rekha (NCOE Patiala) 15.63m, Mayuri Arade (Karnataka) 9.15m.
Women: U20: Shot put: Dona Maria (Kerala) 13.35m, Khusboo (Haryana) 12.03m, Akhshaya GR (Tamil Nadu) 11.89m.
Women: Pole vault: Baranica Elangovan (Tamil Nadu) 4.22m, Blessy Kunjumon (Kerala) 3.95m, Mariya Jaison (Kerala) 3.38m.
Women: Long jump: Anamika KA (JSW) 6.05m, Manisha Merel (Odisha) 6.04m, Sherin A (JSW) 5.92m.
Point of View
The achievements of athletes like Baranica Elangovan and Sarun Payasingh highlight the growing talent in Indian athletics. This event not only sets the stage for national records but also prepares athletes for upcoming international competitions.
NationPress
11 May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who set the new pole vault record?
Baranica Elangovan set the new national pole vault record at 4.22m.
When did the National Indoor Athletics Championships take place?
The championships took place on March 24 at the Indoor Stadium in Bhubaneswar.
What was Sarun Payasingh's achievement in the long jump?
Sarun Payasingh won the gold medal in men's long jump with a distance of 7.80m.
What is the significance of the upcoming event in Ranchi?
The event in Ranchi is a qualification for the Glasgow Commonwealth Games.
Who inaugurated the National Indoor Athletics Championships?
Odisha’s Sports and Youth Services Minister Suraj Suryabanshi inaugurated the championships.
