Kuldeep Kumar clears 5.41m to set national pole vault record at Bhubaneswar Indoor Open
Synopsis
In his first indoor competition, 21-year-old Kuldeep Kumar of Madhya Pradesh vaulted 5.41m to shatter the national record, dethroning Dev Kumar Meena's 5.40m mark set just months earlier. The record-setting performance at Bhubaneswar's inaugural indoor championship signals a fresh wave of competition in Indian pole vault ahead of the Commonwealth Games and Asian Games selection races.
Key Takeaways
Kuldeep Kumar set a new national pole vault record of 5.41m on 2 May at the Indian Indoor Open Combined Events in Bhubaneswar .
The 21-year-old surpassed the previous national record of 5.40m held by Dev Kumar Meena and the indoor record of 5.30m set by Reegan G .
Reegan G won silver with 5.25m ; Dev Kumar Meena claimed bronze at 5.20m .
Both Kuldeep Kumar and Dev Kumar Meena train at the same facility in Madhya Pradesh .
The top three finishers are targeting spots on the national team for the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow and Asian Games in Japan .
Kuldeep Kumar of Madhya Pradesh claimed the gold medal and set a new national men's pole vault record by clearing 5.41m on the opening day of the inaugural Indian Indoor Open Combined Events and Pole Vault Competition at Bhubaneswar's Indoor Stadium on Saturday, 2 May. The 21-year-old surpassed the previous national record of 5.40m set by Dev Kumar Meena in 2024 and also bettered the indoor benchmark of 5.30m established by Reegan G of Tamil Nadu in March.
How the competition unfolded
Competing on the fast Mondo track for his first indoor event, Kuldeep Kumar initially struggled with rhythm but gained momentum when he cleared 5.35m in his second attempt. That success proved decisive: he then raised the bar to 5.41m and cleared it on his first try, though he missed all three attempts at 5.46m. "It was a good experience today," Kuldeep Kumar said after the competition, noting the transition from outdoor to indoor athletics.
The podium finishers
Reegan G of Tamil Nadu secured silver with a clearance of 5.25m, while Dev Kumar Meena, the pre-event favourite and former national record holder, claimed bronze at 5.20m. Meena, who had equalled his own national record of 5.40m at a competition in Taiwan earlier this year, struggled during Saturday's competition. "It wasn't my day," Meena acknowledged, though he expressed enthusiasm about the new record. "It is always good to aim for new goals," he said of Kuldeep Kumar's achievement. Notably, both Meena and Kuldeep Kumar train at the same venue in Madhya Pradesh.
What's next for Indian pole vault
The record-setting performance in Bhubaneswar sets a positive tone for the outdoor domestic season, with a major championship scheduled for late May in Ranchi, Jharkhand. The top three pole vaulters from this indoor competition are eyeing spots on the national team for the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow and the Asian Games in Japan, intensifying competition heading into the outdoor campaign.
Heptathlon action on Day One
In the heptathlon competition, Thowfeeq N. of NCOE Trivandrum led after the first day with 2943 points, while Odisha's Jashbir Nayak trailed closely in second place with 2927 points. The opening day featured the 60m, long jump, shot put, and high jump; Day Two will include the 60m hurdles, pole vault, and 1000m.
Other results
Men's U20 pole vault: Kavinraja S (Tamil Nadu) won with 4.90m, followed by R Vishal (Tamil Nadu) at 4.70m and Saurabh Yadav (Uttar Pradesh) at 4.20m.
Point of View
He has not only dethroned Dev Kumar Meena — who held the mark for less than a year — but signalled a generational shift. The fact that both train in Madhya Pradesh suggests a regional concentration of talent that could reshape domestic competition. However, the real test lies outdoors: the Ranchi championship in late May will reveal whether this indoor breakthrough translates to consistency on the outdoor circuit, where weather, wind, and track variance demand a different mastery.
NationPress
8 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What national record did Kuldeep Kumar set at the Bhubaneswar Indoor Open?
Kuldeep Kumar cleared 5.41m in the men's pole vault to set a new national record on 2 May at the inaugural Indian Indoor Open Combined Events in Bhubaneswar. This surpassed the previous national record of 5.40m held by Dev Kumar Meena.
Who held the previous national pole vault record?
Dev Kumar Meena held the national record at 5.40m, which he set in 2024. He also equalled that mark at a competition in Taiwan earlier this year before finishing third at the Bhubaneswar event.
What was the previous indoor pole vault record in India?
The indoor pole vault record was 5.30m, set by Reegan G of Tamil Nadu in March. Kuldeep Kumar's 5.41m also surpassed this indoor benchmark.
Why is this record significant for Indian athletics?
Kuldeep Kumar's record comes ahead of major international competitions including the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow and the Asian Games in Japan. The top three finishers at Bhubaneswar are competing for spots on the national team, making this a key selection event.
How did the other top vaulters perform at Bhubaneswar?
Reegan G of Tamil Nadu won silver with 5.25m, while Dev Kumar Meena of Madhya Pradesh claimed bronze at 5.20m. Meena, the pre-event favourite, struggled during the competition.
