India's Dev Kumar Meena bettered his own national record in the men's pole vault on Tuesday, clearing 5.50 metres during the final at the Asian Games 2026 in Nagoya, IANS reported.
The 21-year-old went into the competition as the national record holder at 5.46m — a mark he had set at the 65th National Inter-State Senior Athletics Championships in Bhubaneswar in June. In Nagoya, he improved it by four centimetres, raising the Indian record to 5.50m.
A rapid rise
Meena's progress this season has been remarkable. He shared the national record with compatriot Kuldeep Kumar at 5.45m after their joint effort at the Federation Cup in Ranchi in May. Five days later, Meena took sole possession of the mark in Bhubaneswar, and his latest effort in Japan moved it higher still.
On Tuesday, Meena cleared 5.50m in the final but could not go further, failing to clear 5.60m in three attempts. He finished seventh in the final standings.
Kuldeep finishes 10th
Kuldeep Kumar, the other Indian in the final, could not match his compatriot. He failed to clear 5.50m and finished 10th with a best of 5.35m.
The national record in men's pole vault has changed hands several times during the 2026 season — Kuldeep had raised it to 5.41m in May before the two vaulters traded improvements. Their rivalry has lifted Indian pole vaulting higher than ever before, with the mark now standing four centimetres taller than where it was at the start of the month. On the evidence of Nagoya, this is one record that may not stay intact for long.
Sources: IANS
The 21-year-old went into the competition as the national record holder at 5.46m — a mark he had set at the 65th National Inter-State Senior Athletics Championships in Bhubaneswar in June. In Nagoya, he improved it by four centimetres, raising the Indian record to 5.50m.
A rapid rise
Meena's progress this season has been remarkable. He shared the national record with compatriot Kuldeep Kumar at 5.45m after their joint effort at the Federation Cup in Ranchi in May. Five days later, Meena took sole possession of the mark in Bhubaneswar, and his latest effort in Japan moved it higher still.
On Tuesday, Meena cleared 5.50m in the final but could not go further, failing to clear 5.60m in three attempts. He finished seventh in the final standings.
Kuldeep finishes 10th
Kuldeep Kumar, the other Indian in the final, could not match his compatriot. He failed to clear 5.50m and finished 10th with a best of 5.35m.
The national record in men's pole vault has changed hands several times during the 2026 season — Kuldeep had raised it to 5.41m in May before the two vaulters traded improvements. Their rivalry has lifted Indian pole vaulting higher than ever before, with the mark now standing four centimetres taller than where it was at the start of the month. On the evidence of Nagoya, this is one record that may not stay intact for long.
Sources: IANS
