Vaulting to glory: Kuldeep cleared 5.41m in his first attempt to go past Meena’s National mark of 5.40m set last year.
| Photo Credit: BISWARANJAN ROUT
In his first indoor competition, Kuldeep Kumar outsmarted title favourite Dev Meena to rewrite the men’s pole vault National record in the inaugural Indian Indoor Open combined events and pole vault meet at the Kalinga Stadium on Saturday.
The 21-year-old cleared 5.41m in his first attempt to go past Meena’s National mark of 5.40m set last year. Kuldeep also improved the National indoor record of 5.30m set by G. Reegan, who took the silver with 5.25m, in March.
Meena, who had equalled his National record of 5.40m in March in Taiwan, claimed the bronze with 5.20m.
In heptathlon, N. Thowfeeq led with 2,943 points after completing 60m, long jump, shot put and high jump events on day one.
The results: Pole vault: Men: Elite: 1. Kuldeep Kumar (MP) 5.41m (NR, old 5.40m, Dev Meena, 2025), 2. G. Reegan (TN) 5.25m, 3. Dev Meena (MP) 5.20m.
U-20: 1. S. Kavinraja (TN) 4.90m, 2. R. Vishal (TN) 4.70m, 3. Saurabh Yadav (UP) 4.20m.
Published – May 02, 2026 08:36 pm IST
