Historic Night for Indian Athletics: Kuldeep Kumar and Dev Meena Share National Pole Vault Record

The 29th National Senior Athletics Federation Cup witnessed a historic evening as Kuldeep Kumar and Dev Meena both cleared 5.45m in pole vault, sharing the national record. Additionally, Gurindervir Singh made headlines by clocking 10.09 seconds in the 100m, becoming the first Indian man to break the sub-10.10 seconds barrier. This thrilling competition showcased the rising standards in Indian athletics, with both athletes qualifying for the 2026 Asian Games. Read on for more details about these remarkable achievements.

By Narendra Chaudhary May 24, 2026, 23:05 IST

A Landmark Evening in Pole Vaulting

The 29th National Senior Athletics Federation Cup marked a significant milestone for Indian pole vaulting as Kuldeep Kumar and Dev Meena engaged in an exhilarating contest, both achieving a remarkable height of 5.45m at the Birsa Munda Stadium on Sunday.

This final event became a highlight of the competition, with both athletes consistently challenging each other in front of an enthusiastic audience in Ranchi. Kuldeep entered the event as the reigning national record holder with a previous best of 5.41m, but Dev quickly surpassed this by clearing 5.42m, setting a new national record.

However, the lead shifted rapidly as Kuldeep responded with a stunning jump over 5.45m. Not to be outdone, Dev matched this height, resulting in both athletes being crowned joint national record holders at 5.45m.

This achievement was particularly noteworthy as both athletes also met the qualification standards for the upcoming 2026 Asian Games. The crowd was fully engaged as they attempted to clear 5.50m to further extend the national record. Although neither succeeded, their thrilling competition was a defining moment of this year's Federation Cup, showcasing the impressive progress in Indian athletics, especially in men's pole vaulting.

Gurindervir Singh Breaks 100m National Record

In another remarkable feat, Gurindervir Singh made history by becoming the first Indian man to complete the 100m in under 10.10 seconds, clocking an impressive 10.09 seconds. This achievement came as he broke the previous national record by 0.06 seconds, which had just been set a day earlier by Animesh Kujur during the semifinals.

Interestingly, Gurindervir had briefly held the record himself after finishing the semifinals in 10.17 seconds, only for Animesh to surpass it moments later with a time of 10.15 seconds. Gurindervir's emphatic reclaiming of the record, alongside both sprinters qualifying for the Glasgow Commonwealth Games, highlights the growing talent in Indian athletics.