Dev Meena, Anushka Yadav break national records at Inter-State Athletics 2026
Synopsis
Two national records fell in a single day at the 65th Inter-State Athletics Championships in Bhubaneswar — Dev Kumar Meena vaulted 5.46m to own the pole vault record outright, and Anushka Yadav launched the hammer to 65.64m. Both have booked Asian Games 2026 tickets, while Jyothi Yarraji also returned from injury to seal her own qualification.
Key Takeaways
Dev Kumar Meena cleared 5.46m in pole vault at Kalinga Stadium, Bhubaneswar on 24 June 2026 , setting a new national record.
Anushka Yadav threw 65.64m in the women's hammer throw, also breaking the national record.
Both athletes secured the qualifying standard for the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya .
The Indian men's pole vault national record has been improved five times in under two years .
Meena's previous record of 5.45m was shared with Kuldeep Kumar at the Federation Cup in Ranchi just one month earlier.
Jyothi Yarraji clocked 13.14 seconds in the 100m hurdles heats on her return from injury, meeting the Asian Games qualification mark.
Dev Kumar Meena and Anushka Yadav rewrote the Indian record books on Wednesday, 24 June 2026, at the 65th National Inter-State Senior Athletics Championships in Bhubaneswar, with both athletes also securing qualification for the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya. The twin record-breaking performances at Kalinga Stadium underline a remarkable surge in depth across Indian field events.
Dev Meena Clears 5.46m in Pole Vault
Dev Kumar Meena cleared 5.46m in the men's pole vault — a new national record and the qualifying standard for the Asian Games 2026. The clearance came just one month after Meena had shared the national record with Kuldeep Kumar at the Federation Cup in Ranchi, where both athletes cleared 5.45m. By going one centimetre higher in Bhubaneswar, Meena now holds the record outright.
Notably, this is his second consecutive national record-breaking performance, and the Indian men's pole vault national record has been improved five times in less than two years — a striking indicator of the event's growing competitiveness in the country.
Anushka Yadav Sets Women's Hammer Throw Record
Anushka Yadav produced a national record in the women's hammer throw, reaching 65.64 metres to surpass the previous national mark. The throw also earned her the Asian Games 2026 qualification standard, making it a landmark outing at the Inter-State Championships.
Jyothi Yarraji Back with Asian Games Standard
India's celebrated hurdler Jyothi Yarraji, 26, from Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, made a confident return after a lengthy injury layoff. Competing in the opening heats of the women's 100m hurdles, she clocked 13.14 seconds — meeting the qualifying standard for the Asian Games 2026. The controlled run, her first race of the season, signals that the 'hurdle queen' is back on track ahead of the continental showpiece.
What These Performances Mean for Indian Athletics
The Inter-State Senior Athletics Championships serves as one of India's primary qualification platforms for major international events. With three athletes from different disciplines securing Asian Games berths in a single session, the 24 June 2026 day at Kalinga Stadium stands out as one of the more productive in recent championship history. The repeated improvements to the pole vault national record — and now a hammer throw record — point to a widening talent base beyond sprint-centric events.
All eyes will now be on the final Indian squad selection for the 2026 Asian Games, where these record-holders will be among the strongest medal prospects in their respective disciplines.
Point of View
A pace that suggests systemic coaching gains rather than one outlier athlete. Anushka Yadav's hammer record similarly points to a quiet revolution in throws, an area India has historically neglected. If the Athletics Federation can now convert these qualification standards into podium finishes at Aichi-Nagoya, it would mark a genuine step-change — not just another record that fades in the absence of international medals.
NationPress
24 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What national record did Dev Kumar Meena set at the Inter-State Athletics Championships 2026?
Dev Kumar Meena cleared 5.46m in the men's pole vault at Kalinga Stadium, Bhubaneswar on 24 June 2026, setting a new Indian national record. The clearance also met the qualification standard for the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya.
What is Anushka Yadav's national record in hammer throw?
Anushka Yadav threw 65.64 metres in the women's hammer throw at the 65th National Inter-State Senior Athletics Championships 2026, surpassing the previous national record. The performance also secured her a spot at the 2026 Asian Games.
How many times has the Indian pole vault national record been broken recently?
The Indian men's pole vault national record has been improved five times in less than two years , reflecting rapidly growing depth in the event. Dev Meena's 5.46m clearance in Bhubaneswar is the latest in that sequence.
What is Jyothi Yarraji's significance at the 2026 Inter-State Championships?
Jyothi Yarraji, 26, from Visakhapatnam, returned from a lengthy injury layoff and clocked 13.14 seconds in the women's 100m hurdles heats — enough to meet the Asian Games 2026 qualifying standard. It was her first competitive race of the season.
What is the 2026 Asian Games venue and how does the Inter-State Championships help athletes qualify?
The 2026 Asian Games are scheduled to be held in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. The National Inter-State Senior Athletics Championships is one of India's key qualification events, where athletes must meet prescribed performance standards to be considered for the national squad.
