Dev Meena and Kuldeep Kumar rewrote the Indian men’s pole vault national record multiple times in a thrilling duel at the National Senior Athletics Federation Competition 2026 in Ranchi on Sunday.
Competing at the Birsa Munda Stadium, Dev Meena, with a 5.42m clearance, first toppled Kuldeep Kumar’s previous record of 5.41m set earlier this month in Bhubaneswar.
The 21-year-old Kuldeep responded almost immediately by clearing 5.45m to reclaim the record before Dev, 20, matched the effort moments later as both athletes finished with a new joint national record.
Both also bettered the Athletics Federation of India’s qualification standard for the Commonwealth Games (5.25m) and matched the mark for the Asian Games.
Kuldeep and Dev both attempted 5.50m to extend the record further, but failed to clear the height. Dev Meena won the event on countback.
The third day of the athletics meet in Ranchi also saw several Indian athletes breach the qualification standards set for the Commonwealth Games.
Commonwealth Games 2022 silver medallist Murali Sreeshankar registered a winning leap of 8.08m in the men’s long jump event to go past the qualification mark of 8.05m.
Sreeshankar had already achieved the qualification standards earlier this season. However, the AFI has designated the Federation Cup as the lone selection trial for the Commonwealth Games 2026, while clarifying that exemptions may be granted.
M Sreeshankar has won all four events he has contested this year with 8m-plus efforts.
Paris 2024 Olympian Sarvesh Kushare also cleared the Commonwealth Games qualification mark in the men’s high jump after topping the field with a 2.28m effort. Aadarsh Ram matched the qualification standard of 2.22m to finish second.
In the women’s 10000m race walk, Ravina clocked 44:29.66 to better the qualification standard of 44:44.58 and secure first place.
In the men’s 400m hurdles heats, Santhosh Kumar T (49.93s) and Yashas P (50.05s) bettered the Commonwealth Games qualification mark of 50.27s to advance to the final.
Federation Cup athletics 2026: Day 3 winners
- Women’s 10000m race walk (CWG qualification – 44:44.58): 1. Ravina (44:29.66s); 2. Reshma Patel (44:57.94s); 3. Munita Prajapati (45:23.90s)
- Men’s pole vault (CWG qualification – 5.25m): 1. Dev Meena (5.45m NR); 2. Kuldeep Kumar (5.45m); 3. Reegan G (5.15m)
- Women’s hammer throw (CWG qualification – 66.80m): 1. Manpreet Kaur (59.08m); 2. Kulvinder Kaur (57.76m); 3. Divya Shandilya (56.41m)
- Men’s high jump (CWG qualification – 2.22m): 1. Sarvesh Kushare (2.28m); 2. Aadarsh Ram (2.22m); 3. Sudeep (2.12m)
- Men’s long jump (CWG qualification – 8.05m): 1. Murali Sreeshankar (8.08m); 2. S Lokesh (7.94m); 3. Mohd Atta Sazid (7.90m)
- Men’s 110m hurdles (CWG qualification – 13.39s): 1. Tejas Shirse (13.50s); 2. Krishik M (13.52s); 3. Muhammed Lazan VK (13.83s)
- Men’s discus throw (CWG qualification – 64.56m): 1. Dharamraj Yadav (55.20m); 2. Bhartpreet Singh (54.62m); 3. Oinam Singh (53.52m)
- Women’s 100m hurdles (CWG qualification – 12.67s): 1. Nandhini K (13.24s); 2. Pragyan Prasanti Sahu (13.33s); 3. Anjali C (13.35s)
- Men’s 1500m (CWG qualification – 3:30.82): 1. Rahul Baloda (3:40.06); 2. Sakir (3:40.83); 3. Ajay Kumar Saroj (3:40.92)
READ MORE: https://www.olympics.com/en/news/federation-cup-athletics-2026-day-3-pole-vault-national-record-report
