Dev Meena, the national record holder in pole vault, has accused Indian Railways of inaction after he and another athlete were forced off a train during their journey from Mangaluru to Bhopal at Panvel in Maharashtra for carrying his five-meter pole. Meena, who holds the men’s pole vault national record at 5.40m, claimed that they were humiliated by a Travelling Ticket Examiner (TTE), detained at the station for five hours, and fined Rs 5000.
The incident occurred when the ticket examiner enforced strict luggage rules on the athletes’ expensive carbon fiber poles, each valued at Rs 2 lakh, and ejected them from the train. Despite their explanations about pole vaulting, they received no assistance and were compelled to pay the penalty. Meena expressed disappointment over the lack of action taken even after the incident video went viral and they informed the Sports Minister.
Dev Meena, who set the national record at the World University Games in Germany in 2025, emphasized the need for Indian Railways to permit sports equipment with appropriate charges to prevent such occurrences in the future. He stressed the importance of receiving an official letter from authorities to avoid similar incidents and safeguard the interests of athletes, especially juniors and their careers.
Athletes facing challenges while transporting their equipment is not uncommon, with shooters also encountering difficulties with their guns and ammunition during travel. Many sportspeople prefer carrying their valuable gear personally to prevent potential damage due to mishandling. Such incidents have been a recurring issue, prompting calls for better handling of sports equipment during transportation.
