Kuldeep Kumar, representing Madhya Pradesh, achieved a remarkable feat by setting the national men’s pole vault record at the Indian Indoor Open in Bhubaneswar. The 21-year-old cleared a height of 5.41m in his first attempt, surpassing the previous record of 5.40m held by Dev Kumar Meena. Additionally, he improved the national indoor record to 5.30m, previously set by Reegan G of Tamil Nadu.
Dev Kumar Meena, who had equaled his national record earlier this year, settled for the bronze medal in the competition despite being a pre-event favorite. The battle for the gold medal primarily involved three athletes: Dev Kumar Meena, Kuldeep Kumar, and Reegan G. As the event progressed, Dev Kumar Meena struggled and secured the bronze with a height of 5.20m, while Reegan G claimed the silver with 5.25m.
Kuldeep Kumar’s successful clearance at 5.35m in his second attempt boosted his confidence, leading him to set a new record at 5.41m. This achievement sets a positive tone for the upcoming major outdoor domestic competition scheduled for the end of May in Ranchi, Jharkhand. Both Dev Kumar Meena and Kuldeep Kumar, who practice at the same venue in Madhya Pradesh, are looking forward to the exciting outdoor season ahead.
In addition to the pole vault event, an intense competition unfolded in the heptathlon category. Thowfeeq N. of NCOE Trivandrum led the standings on the first day with 2943 points, closely followed by Odisha’s Jashbir Nayak with 2927 points. The heptathlon events on Day One included 60m, long jump, shot put, and high jump, with Day Two featuring 60m hurdles, pole vault, and 1000m races.
