Indian athletics is officially entering its main character era. For the first time in history, two Indian athletes are pulling up to represent the country in the men’s pole vault at the Commonwealth Games. Dev Meena from Madhya Pradesh and Kuldeep Yadav from Uttar Pradesh have both secured their spots for CWG 2026, and honestly? They’re about to rewrite the history books.
What makes this lore even crazier is that they’re basically training twins. Both vaulters train under the same mastermind coach, Ghanshyam Yadav, at the state-sponsored DSWY academy at TT Nagar, Bhopal.
But let’s be real—their road to qualification was a whole survival arc. Until last year, India’s national record in men’s pole vault was capped at a modest 5.31m. Enter 20-year-old Dev Meena, who absolutely understood the assignment at the National Games 2025 by clearing 5.32m. He didn’t just break the record and call it a day, though. Dev went on an absolute rampage, breaking the national record five times in a row before flexing a 5.46m clearance—which is currently the top-tier flex for Indian athletics.
Meanwhile, Kuldeep Yadav’s arc was all about the ultimate comeback. He’d been fighting a long battle with injuries before linking up with Ghanshyam’s squad last year. The glow-up? Insane. Kuldeep came into 2026 with a former personal best of 5.15m, instantly upgraded to 5.25m, and then casually smashed the national record with a 5.41m vault. Not stopping there, he pushed it to 5.45m, easily surpassing the CWG qualification bar.
Unpacking the dynamic of his star pupils, Ghanshyam Yadav said, “They are both very good athletes, very hardworking, good training partners during practice, and great competitors against each other in competition.”
When asked how he keeps the peace between two elite athletes constantly trying to out-flex each other, Ghanshyam dropped his secret recipe with a smile: “I give them individual targets. I speak to both of them separately before competitions and tell each of them, ‘Today is your day. You have to break the national record.’ Neither athlete knows that I’ve given the same target to the other. If they ever find out, it might become a problem for me,” he said with a laugh.
Fun fact: Coach Ghanshyam is a former pole vaulter himself, so he knows the vibes inside out.
The duo will be jumping into action on July 30 for the men’s pole vault qualification round in Glasgow. If they clear the hype, they’ll be vaulting for actual CWG medals on August 1.
Dev and Kuldeep are bringing fresh personal bests of 5.46m and 5.45m to the table, but Glasgow is going to be a total boss fight. Looking at this season’s global stats, the Indian duo currently ranks fourth and fifth among qualified CWG athletes. Australia’s Kurtis Marschall is leading the pack with a massive 6.00m flex, followed by Great Britain’s Owen Heard (5.71m) and South Africa’s Kyle Rademeyer (5.60m).
Addressing the heavy competition, Ghanshyam isn’t sweating it: “Yes, the field is tough, but you have to understand that we are here to make a way, not follow one. Competing against stronger athletes will only make both of them better. They are regular 5.50m athletes, and I have full confidence they will give their best. I believe they are medal contenders, without a doubt.”
However, one major plot hole in India’s CWG setup is that no dedicated pole vault specialist or support staff was included in the official contingent traveling for the event.
Reacting to the gatekeeping, Ghanshyam said, “Yes, they haven’t included anyone specifically for pole vault. It will be tough because pole vault is a completely different event.”
He added, “I showed them the performances of the athletes they will be competing against, including the vaulter from Australia who has cleared 6.00m this season.”
Talking about the lack of high-level domestic meets to lock in practice, Ghanshyam noted, “Yes, they are struggling because there isn’t enough competition at the national level. After the Commonwealth Games and the Asian Games, our sole focus will shift towards the 2028 Olympics. I know the qualification mark of 5.83m is tough, but it’s not impossible. I’m planning to send both athletes to more competitions outside India. If they regularly compete against athletes clearing 5.70m or 5.80m, it will give them more confidence and will certainly help improve their performances.”
For more visit Commonwealth Games 2026
India will once again field a formidable pair in the men’s triple jump at the Commonwealth Games 2026, with Praveen Chithravel and Selva Prabhu carrying the nation’s hopes in an event where Indian athletes have enjoyed considerable success in recent years.
Both jumpers arrive in Glasgow in outstanding form after producing career-best performances during the 2026 season. Praveen Chithravel has recorded a season-best of 17.08m, while Selva Prabhu has followed closely with 17.05m. These marks rank them third and fourth, respectively, among athletes selected for the Commonwealth Games, placing both firmly in medal contention.
The season rankings among selected Commonwealth athletes are headed by Jordan Scott of Jamaica, who has produced an impressive 17.69m. Praveen occupies the third spot with 17.08m, narrowly ahead of Selva’s 17.05m. Kenya’s Kevin Kemboi follows with 16.84m, while Kelsey Daniel of Trinidad and Tobago rounds out the leading contenders with 16.68m.
India has fond memories of the men’s triple jump at the 2022 Commonwealth Games, where the country celebrated a historic gold and silver medal finish. Eldhose Paul claimed the title with a wind-assisted 17.03m, while Praveen Chithravel narrowly missed the podium after finishing fourth despite a spirited campaign.
Four years later, Praveen returns to the Commonwealth Games as a far more experienced athlete and one of the leading contenders for a medal. Alongside him, Selva Prabhu has enjoyed a breakthrough season that has elevated him into the top tier of Commonwealth jumpers, giving India two realistic podium prospects.
With the third and fourth-best season’s performances among the selected Commonwealth competitors, India heads to Glasgow with genuine optimism in the men’s triple jump. If Praveen and Selva reproduce their best form on the day, they have every opportunity to continue India’s proud tradition in the event and challenge for medals on the Commonwealth stage.
For more visit Commonwealth Games 2026
India will have two exciting young athletes in the men’s pole vault at the Commonwealth Games 2026, with Dev Kumar Meena and Kuldeep Kumar set to represent the country in an event that has witnessed remarkable progress for Indian athletics this season.
Both vaulters have enjoyed breakthrough campaigns in 2026, producing career-best performances that have elevated them among the leading Commonwealth competitors. Dev Kumar Meena enters the Games with a lifetime best of 5.46m, while Kuldeep Kumar has cleared 5.45m, placing them eighth and ninth, respectively, among athletes selected for the Commonwealth Games.
The season rankings among selected Commonwealth athletes are led by Australia’s Kurtis Marschall, who has produced a world-class clearance of 6.00m. Great Britain’s Owen Heard follows with 5.71m, while Kyle Rademeyer of South Africa occupies third with 5.60m. Dev and Kuldeep are the next two athletes on the list, highlighting India’s growing competitiveness in the discipline.
The rise of the Indian duo has been one of the standout stories of the domestic athletics season. Dev and Kuldeep have both achieved lifetime bests and consistently raised the standard of men’s pole vault in the country through a series of outstanding performances.
Their achievements extend beyond individual milestones. Together, Dev Kumar Meena and Kuldeep Kumar have broken the Indian men’s pole vault national record at least three times this season, reflecting the intense competition between the pair and the rapid development of the event in India. Their performances have helped redefine national standards and signalled a new era for Indian pole vaulting.
Although the Commonwealth field features established international competitors, Dev and Kuldeep have shown that they are capable of competing at a high level. Their consistent improvement throughout the season gives India genuine reason for optimism as they prepare for Glasgow.
With two in-form vaulters ranked among the Commonwealth’s leading selected athletes, India heads into the Games with growing confidence that Dev Kumar Meena and Kuldeep Kumar can continue their impressive rise on the international stage.
India’s national high jump record holder, Sarvesh Kushare, produced a memorable performance on his Diamond League debut, finishing third at the Monaco Diamond League 2026 with a best clearance of 2.26m.
Competing against some of the world’s finest high jumpers, Sarvesh delivered a flawless series through 2.12m, 2.16m, 2.20m, 2.23m, and 2.26m, clearing every height on his first attempt. At one stage of the competition, only Sarvesh and eventual champion Oleh Doroshchuk had maintained a perfect record through 2.26m.
Sarvesh then made three strong attempts at 2.28m but was unable to clear the height, bringing an end to an outstanding debut on the prestigious Diamond League circuit.
Ukraine’s Oleh Doroshchuk claimed the men’s high jump title with a clearance of 2.32m, while Great Britain’s Jack Kimani finished second with 2.30m. Sarvesh secured third place with 2.26m, marking one of the best international performances of his career.
Men’s High Jump Results – Monaco Diamond League 2026
1. Oleh Doroshchuk (Ukraine) – 2.32m
2. Jack Kimani (Great Britain) – 2.30m
3. Sarvesh Kushare (India) – 2.26m
Sarvesh entered the competition in outstanding form, having broken the Indian national high jump record with a clearance of 2.31m in his previous meet. He has already been selected to represent India at the 2026 Commonwealth Games and is also expected to feature at the 2026 Asian Games, with the athletics squad yet to be officially announced.
India heads into the Commonwealth Games 2026 with strong medal aspirations in the men’s high jump, where Sarvesh Kushare and Aadarsh Ram will represent the country in a highly competitive field.
Leading India’s challenge is Sarvesh Kushare, who has enjoyed an outstanding 2026 season. His season-best clearance of 2.31m places him joint-first among all Commonwealth athletes this year, alongside Australia’s Kimani Jack. The mark underlines Sarvesh’s consistency and positions him as one of the leading contenders for the podium in Glasgow.
Joining him is Aadarsh Ram, who has also impressed this season with a best clearance of 2.27m. His performance ranks sixth among Commonwealth athletes, putting him firmly in the mix in what promises to be one of the closest high jump competitions of the Games.
The season rankings reflect the depth of talent expected in Glasgow. Australia’s Kimani Jack shares the top spot with Sarvesh at 2.31m, while Jamaica’s Romaine Beckford has cleared 2.30m. Olympic champion Hamish Kerr of New Zealand and Australia’s Yual Reath have both recorded 2.28m, with Aadarsh completing the top six at 2.27m.
Notably, all six athletes on the season list have been selected by their respective countries for the Commonwealth Games, ensuring that the event will feature every leading performer from the 2026 season.
For India, the combination of Sarvesh’s joint-leading mark and Aadarsh’s consistent performances provides genuine optimism. Sarvesh enters the competition as one of the favourites after matching the best clearance among Commonwealth athletes this season, while Aadarsh has shown that he possesses the ability to challenge the strongest field of his career.
With two athletes ranked among the Commonwealth’s top six and both arriving in Glasgow in excellent form, India has every reason to believe it can contend for medals in the men’s high jump at the 2026 Commonwealth Games.
For more visit Commonwealth Games 2026
Eighteen-year-old Shahnavaz continued his remarkable rise in Indian athletics with a sensational performance at the 65th National Inter-State Senior Athletics Championships 2026, producing a lifetime-best jump of 8.30m to shatter the Indian U20 national record and secure qualification for the upcoming Asian Games.
Competing against some of the country’s finest long jumpers, the youngster delivered the performance of his career when it mattered most. His impressive leap not only earned him the Asian Games qualification standard but also established a new benchmark in Indian U20 athletics.
The 8.30m effort stands as India’s all-time best performance in the U20 category, underlining the extraordinary nature of his achievement. On the continental stage, the mark ranks as the second-best U20 performance in Asian history, while globally it is the seventh-best U20 mark of all time. These statistics place Shahnavaz among the most promising young long jumpers in the world.
The record-breaking jump also represented a new lifetime best, further highlighting the rapid progress the 18-year-old has made over the course of the season. Shahnavaz has been in exceptional form throughout the year, consistently improving his performances and registering multiple personal bests across competitions.
His latest achievement at the Interstate Championships confirms his emergence as one of India’s brightest young athletics prospects. Delivering such a high-quality performance on one of the country’s biggest domestic stages reflects both his talent and his ability to compete under pressure.
The Interstate Championships have produced several memorable performances this season, but Shahnavaz’s record-breaking leap stands among the most significant. By rewriting the Indian U20 record and comfortably surpassing the Asian Games qualification standard, he has announced himself as a serious contender for future international success.
With youth on his side and confidence soaring after this historic performance, Shahnavaz has taken a major step forward in his career. His outstanding 8.30m jump is not only a milestone for Indian athletics but also a glimpse of an exciting future for one of the nation’s most promising young stars.
Murali Sreeshankar announced his return in spectacular fashion at the 65th National Inter-State Senior Athletics Championships 2026, producing a sensational 8.38m leap to win the men’s long jump title and secure qualification for the upcoming Asian Games.
Competing at one of India’s most important domestic meets, Sreeshankar delivered when it mattered most. His winning jump of 8.38m not only earned him the national title but also reaffirmed his place among the country’s greatest long jumpers. The effort stands as India’s third-best long jump of all time and ranks as the second-best jump of his career, highlighting the significance of his performance.
The mark also carries major international importance. Sreeshankar’s 8.38m leap is currently the best performance in Asia this season and the ninth-best mark in the world this season, placing him among the leading long jumpers on the global stage. Just as importantly, the jump comfortably surpassed the Asian Games qualification standard, ensuring his place among India’s top contenders for the continental event.
The performance marks a memorable comeback for the accomplished long jumper, who once again demonstrated his ability to deliver under pressure. Producing one of the finest jumps of his career at a crucial stage of the season reflects both his consistency and competitive temperament.
The Interstate Championships have witnessed several outstanding performances this year, but Sreeshankar’s 8.38m effort undoubtedly ranks among the highlights of the competition. Beyond securing the national title, the jump reinforces India’s growing stature in the horizontal jumps and provides a significant boost ahead of the Asian Games.
With the Asian Games approaching, Sreeshankar’s return to top form could not have come at a better time. By producing the best jump in Asia this season and one of the world’s leading performances, he has sent a clear message that he is once again ready to challenge at the highest level.
It was a comeback worthy of one of India’s finest long jumpers, and a performance that has reignited excitement ahead of the international season.
Indian high jump has a new record holder.
Sarvesh Kushare produced the performance of his career at the 65th National Inter-State Senior Athletics Championships, clearing 2.31 metres on his third attempt to set a new Indian national record in the men’s high jump.
The Maharashtra athlete eclipsed the previous national record of 2.29m, held by Tejaswin Shankar, by two centimetres, marking one of the biggest breakthroughs in Indian track and field this season.
The record-breaking clearance was even more remarkable considering Kushare’s previous personal best stood at 2.28m. Faced with the bar at 2.31m after successfully negotiating the earlier heights, he rose to the occasion, producing a flawless clearance on his final attempt to etch his name into the record books.
The moment sparked jubilant celebrations as Kushare realised he had become the highest-ever jumper in Indian athletics history.
The achievement is the culmination of years of steady progress for the 30-year-old, who has represented India at the Commonwealth Games, Asian Games and World Championships. Long regarded as one of the country’s most consistent high jumpers, Kushare had repeatedly come close to rewriting the national record before finally breaking through in spectacular fashion.
The previous mark of 2.29m, set by Tejaswin Shankar, had stood as the benchmark for Indian high jumping. Kushare has now taken the event to a new level, becoming the first Indian to clear 2.30 metres and beyond in competition.
The timing of the performance could hardly have been better. With the Commonwealth Games and Asian Games fast approaching, the new national record sends a strong message that Indian high jumping is entering a new phase, with Kushare carrying outstanding form into the biggest competitions of the year.
Beyond the record itself, the performance is another encouraging sign for Indian athletics, which has witnessed a series of national records and Asian Games qualification marks during the Inter-State Championships.
On a memorable evening in Bhubaneswar, however, one performance stood above the rest.
2.31 metres.
A new national record.
A new benchmark for Indian high jump.
And a historic leap by Sarvesh Kushare.
Indian pole vault sensation Dev Meena continued his remarkable rise by breaking the men’s national record once again at the 65th Interstate Athletics Championships 2026, clearing 5.46 m to set a new Indian mark.
The performance not only earned Meena another national record but also secured the Asian Games 2026 qualification standard, further cementing his status as one of India’s most exciting field event athletes.
This latest achievement marks Meena’s second consecutive national record-breaking performance, highlighting his rapid progression in the event. Even more remarkably, it is the fifth time the Indian men’s pole vault national record has been improved in less than two years, reflecting the unprecedented growth of the discipline in the country.
Meena’s consistent record-breaking performances have transformed the landscape of Indian pole vaulting. With every competition, the young vaulter continues to push the boundaries of what was once considered possible in Indian athletics.
His 5.46m clearance adds another chapter to what has become a genuine pole vault revolution in India.
For now, the spotlight firmly belongs to Dev Meena, who has once again rewritten the national record books and reaffirmed his position as India’s leading pole vaulter.
India’s top pole vaulters will be in action today at 16:30 IST at the Interstate Athletics Championships 2026, with the Asian Games qualification mark on the line.
Elite Line-up:
1⃣ Dev Meena – 5.45m (NR)
2⃣ Kuldeep Yadav – 5.45m (NR)
3⃣ Reegan Ganesh – 5.35m
4⃣ M Gowtham – 5.20m.
In their last competition, both Dev Meena and Kuldeep Yadav broke the national record and now jointly hold it at 5.45m.
The men’s pole vault national record has been improved four times since last season, rising from 5.31m to 5.45m — a remarkable leap for the event in India.
The Asian Games qualification standard also stands at 5.45m, meaning athletes will need to match or better that mark here to secure their ticket to the Games.
What are your predictions?
Can we witness another national record today?
