Dev Meena clears 5.50m to break own national record at Asian Games 2026
Synopsis
At just 21, Dev Kumar Meena has now broken India's men's pole vault national record three times in a single season — the latest a 5.50m clearance on the Asian Games stage in Nagoya. He entered 2026 sharing the record at 5.45m; he leaves Japan holding it alone at 5.50m, with no sign the ceiling has been reached.
Key Takeaways
Dev Kumar Meena cleared 5.50m at the Asian Games 2026 final in Nagoya on 29 September , setting a new national record.
The mark betters his previous national record of 5.46m , set at the 65th National Inter-State Senior Athletics Championships in Bhubaneswar in June 2026 .
Meena finished seventh overall after failing to clear 5.60m in three attempts.
Compatriot Kuldeep Kumar finished 10th with a best of 5.35m .
The national record in men's pole vault has been broken multiple times during the 2026 season , with Meena now holding it outright.
Meena had earlier finished fourth at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow , clearing 5.30m .
India's Dev Kumar Meena rewrote his own national record in the men's pole vault, clearing 5.50 metres on his first attempt during the Asian Games 2026 final in Nagoya on Tuesday, 29 September. The 21-year-old bettered his previous national mark of 5.46m, set just months earlier, to stamp his authority as the country's finest pole vaulter.
How the Final Unfolded
Meena began his campaign with composure, sailing over 5.35m on his first attempt in a smooth, well-executed clearance. He required two attempts to get over 5.20m but wasted no time when the bar was raised to 5.50m, clearing it on his very first try to set the new national record.
However, the record-breaking run ended there. Meena could not conquer 5.60m in three attempts, bringing his Asian Games campaign to a close. He finished seventh on the leaderboard — a creditable result on the continental stage even as the medal eluded him.
Kuldeep Kumar's Showing
Meena's compatriot Kuldeep Kumar had a difficult outing, failing to clear 5.50m and finishing in 10th place with a best jump of 5.35m. The two athletes had shared the national record of 5.45m after a joint clearance at the Federation Cup in Ranchi in May 2026.
A Record That Has Moved Rapidly in 2026
The national record in men's pole vault has changed hands multiple times during the 2026 season, reflecting the rapid rise of both athletes. Kuldeep had first raised the bar to 5.41m in May before both men cleared 5.45m at the Federation Cup. Meena then took sole possession with a 5.46m clearance at the 65th National Inter-State Senior Athletics Championships in Bhubaneswar, surpassing the previous shared mark and simultaneously achieving the Asian Games qualification standard. His latest effort in Japan has pushed that record a further four centimetres higher.
Notably, Meena had claimed sole ownership of the record just five days after sharing it with Kuldeep at the Federation Cup — underscoring the pace of his development.
Meena's Broader 2026 Campaign
The 21-year-old's trajectory this year has been steep. He finished fourth at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, clearing 5.30m and narrowly missing a podium finish. That near-miss appears to have sharpened his resolve, with three successive national record improvements in the months that followed.
With the Asian Games 2026 now behind him, attention will turn to whether Meena can translate his record-breaking domestic form into a continental or global medal at the next major championship cycle.
Point of View
But the headline is the record — and the trajectory behind it. Three national records in a single season, each building on the last, is not routine athletic progress; it signals a vaulter who is still finding his ceiling. The real question is structural: India's pole vault ecosystem lacks the high-performance coaching depth and equipment access that top-eight finishers at the Asian Games typically enjoy. Meena is outperforming his infrastructure. Whether that gap is closed before the next Olympic cycle will determine if this record-breaking run translates into continental hardware.
NationPress
29 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What national record did Dev Kumar Meena set at the Asian Games 2026?
Dev Kumar Meena cleared 5.50m in the men's pole vault final at the Asian Games 2026 in Nagoya on 29 September, bettering his own previous national record of 5.46m. It was his third national record of the 2026 season.
How did Meena perform overall at the Asian Games 2026 pole vault final?
Meena finished seventh in the final. He cleared 5.50m on his first attempt but could not negotiate 5.60m in three tries, ending his campaign at that height.
What is the history of India's men's pole vault national record in 2026?
The record moved several times during 2026. Kuldeep Kumar raised it to 5.41m in May, then both Kuldeep and Meena cleared 5.45m at the Federation Cup in Ranchi. Meena took sole possession with 5.46m in Bhubaneswar in June before improving it to 5.50m in Nagoya.
How did Kuldeep Kumar fare at the Asian Games 2026?
Kuldeep Kumar finished 10th in the pole vault final with a best clearance of 5.35m, failing to match the 5.50m bar that Meena cleared.
What was Meena's performance at the 2026 Commonwealth Games?
Meena finished fourth at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, clearing 5.30m and narrowly missing a podium finish before his subsequent run of national records.
