Birsa Munda Stadium, Ranchi | Day 4 | May 25, 2026 | 18:00 IST

Kerala has long been the heartland of Indian triple jump, and on the final day of Federation Cup 2026, three of the discipline’s finest will go head to head in what promises to be one of the most technically brilliant and fiercely competitive events of the entire championship. The Men’s Triple Jump Final gets underway at 18:00 IST, and with the Commonwealth Games qualification mark dividing this field right down the middle, the stakes are as high as they come.

Praveen Chithravel: The National Record Holder

There is only one place to start. Praveen Chithravel is India’s finest triple jumper and the current national record holder, having soared to an extraordinary 17.37m — a mark that places him among the elite in Asian triple jump. His 2026 season best of 16.95m already clears the Commonwealth Games qualification standard, and he arrives in Ranchi as the clear favourite.

But Praveen is more than a name on paper. He is an athlete who has competed and performed at the international level with distinction, and a Federation Cup final on home soil will bring out the best in him. If his run-up is on and the board is kind, a big jump — perhaps even a challenge to his own national record — is not beyond the realms of possibility.

Abdulla Aboobacker: The Eternal Rival

Standing across the sandpit, as he always seems to, is Abdulla Aboobacker. With a personal best of 17.19m and a season best of 16.83m, Abdulla has spent his career as Praveen’s closest competitor — and the rivalry between them has pushed both athletes to heights Indian triple jump had rarely seen before.

His season best of 16.83m leaves him agonisingly six centimetres short of the CWG qualification mark of 16.89m, which means this final carries particular urgency for Abdulla. He needs not just a good jump, but a great one. History suggests he is more than capable of delivering exactly that when the pressure is highest.

Karthik Unnikrishnan: The Sleeping Giant

The most fascinating profile in this field belongs to Karthik Unnikrishnan. His personal best of 17.10m — the third-highest in Indian triple jump history — confirms that he belongs in the conversation with Praveen and Abdulla at their very best. Yet his 2026 season best of 16.09m suggests he is still some way from that peak form.

The gap between 16.09m and 17.10m is enormous in triple jump terms, and Karthik will need to find nearly a full metre of improvement on his season best to threaten the top two. But personal bests exist because athletes have reached them before, and on the right day, with the right adrenaline, Karthik is capable of a jump that reshuffles everything. He is the wildcard this final cannot afford to ignore.

The Rest of the Field

Gailey Venister has impressed this season with a personal best of 16.48m, a mark that signals real capability even if it falls short of the CWG standard. Mohammed Muhassin checks in with a season and personal best of 16.25m. Both will be competing for a Federation Cup podium and using this final as a springboard for the season ahead.

Commonwealth Games: A Line Drawn in the Sand

The CWG 2026 qualification mark of 16.89m creates a natural fault line in this field. Praveen has already cleared it. Abdulla sits just below it. Everyone else has significant ground to cover. That dynamic shapes the entire contest — Praveen can jump to win, while Abdulla must jump to qualify and win simultaneously.

It is the kind of pressure that either produces a lifetime best or forces an error. For an athlete of Abdulla’s experience and quality, the smart money is on the former.

A Fitting Finale

As Federation Cup 2026 draws to a close in Ranchi, the Men’s Triple Jump Final offers a fitting climax — a technical, dramatic, deeply competitive event featuring athletes with the pedigree to produce something genuinely historic. Praveen Chithravel’s national record of 17.37m has stood as the gold standard of Indian triple jump. Could it come under threat on the final day of the championship?

Three hops, three steps, three jumps. One winner.

Birsa Munda Stadium, Ranchi | Day 3 | May 24, 2026 | 17:00 IST

There is a stat about the Men’s Pole Vault Final at Federation Cup 2026 that deserves to be read twice: all four athletes competing this evening have already set personal bests this season. Not one of them. Not two. All four.

That is not a coincidence. That is a generation of Indian pole vaulters arriving together — and at 17:00 IST in Ranchi, they will go head to head in what promises to be one of the most fiercely contested vertical events in recent Indian athletics history.

The Top Four — All Flying in 2026

Kuldeep Yadav leads the field on paper with a season best of 5.41m, a mark that not only clears the Commonwealth Games qualification standard but places him firmly in the conversation as one of India’s finest pole vaulters. He enters the final as the man to beat, carrying the momentum of a personal best already banked this year.

Just one centimetre behind him is Dev Meena at 5.40m — a gap so small it is essentially meaningless in competition. Meena has been equally impressive this season and will not concede anything to Kuldeep without a fight. When the bar climbs to its upper heights, expect these two to be the last men standing.

Reegan Ganesh has cleared 5.35m this season — again, a personal best — and sits only six centimetres off the top. In pole vault, where athletes can clear or fail heights by fractions, that is absolutely nothing. Ganesh is a genuine podium contender and, on the right day, a title contender too.

The fourth name, Kavin Raja, has registered a season best of 5.12m. While he enters as the underdog against the top three, his personal best this season tells the same story as his rivals — he is jumping better than he ever has. Don’t rule him out for a performance that surprises everyone.

A Season of Personal Bests — What Does It Mean?

The fact that every single athlete in this final has already surpassed their previous career best in 2026 is remarkable context for what we might witness this evening. These are not athletes finding form slowly — they are already beyond where they have ever been. Federation Cup arrives at the peak of their seasons, not the beginning.

In a technical event like pole vault, personal bests signal more than fitness. They signal that an athlete’s technique, run-up, and bar clearance rhythm are all clicking at the same time. All four athletes are in that place simultaneously. The result is a final where the bar is likely to climb higher than any previous edition of this event.

Commonwealth Games in the Crosshairs

The CWG 2026 qualification mark of 5.25m is a realistic target for the top three athletes in this field — all of whom have already cleared it this season. Kuldeep, Meena, and Ganesh will not just be competing for the Federation Cup title this evening; they will be eyeing a confirmed berth at the Commonwealth Games.

For Kavin Raja, 5.25m represents a significant but not impossible step up from his 5.12m season best. A competition of this magnitude, against rivals of this quality, can unlock heights that time trials simply cannot.

One Bar, No Margin for Error

Pole vault rewards the brave and punishes the hesitant. With the margins between Kuldeep Yadav and Dev Meena at a single centimetre, this final could come down to a countback, a final attempt, or a single moment of magic under the Ranchi sky.

Four athletes. Four personal bests. One title.

The bar goes up at 17:00 IST. Let’s see who clears it last.

Federation Cup 2026 runs from May 22–25 at Birsa Munda Stadium, Ranchi.

Birsa Munda Stadium, Ranchi | Day 3 | May 24, 2026 | 18:00 IST

If Day 1 belonged to the sprinters and hammer throwers, Day 3 of Federation Cup 2026 has a event of its own lined up at 18:00 IST — the Men’s Long Jump Final. With three athletes capable of jumping beyond 8.40 metres, a Commonwealth Games qualification mark that is genuinely within reach, and a field that spans generations of Indian long jump excellence, this promises to be the standout field event of the entire championship.

The Big Three

At the top of the billing sit three athletes who have each touched or surpassed 8.41 metres — a number that places them among the finest long jumpers India has ever produced.

Murali Sreeshankar needs no introduction. The Kerala jumper and national record holder carries a personal best of 8.41m and a season best of 8.15m into Ranchi. Few athletes in Indian athletics history have combined the technical precision and explosive power that Sreeshankar brings to the runway. He arrives as the most decorated name in this field and the benchmark against which everyone else is measured.

Jeswin Aldrin is, in many ways, the most intriguing entry of all. The Tamil Nadu jumper opened his 2026 season with a stunning 8.41m — matching Sreeshankar’s personal best in what was just a season opener. That kind of form in the very first competition of the year signals that Aldrin is not just in form, he is primed. If he has found consistency to go with that distance, he could be the most dangerous athlete on the runway this evening.

Then there is S Lokesh, who holds the best season best in this field at 8.21m — a mark that already clears the Commonwealth Games qualification standard with room to spare. Lokesh has been quietly building a formidable 2026 campaign, and a national championship final is exactly the stage where he will want to deliver his biggest jump yet.

Commonwealth Games: The Real Prize

The CWG 2026 qualification mark of 8.05m is, unlike the women’s long jump standard, a genuinely realistic target for multiple athletes in this field. Sreeshankar, Lokesh, and Aldrin have all already cleared it this season. But David P (PB: 7.94m), Sunny Kumar (PB: 7.90m), Md. Atta Sazid (PB: 7.86m), and Sarun Payasingh (PB: 7.80m) will be fiercely motivated to use this final as their qualification bid — knowing that a personal best could punch their ticket to the Commonwealth Games.

For that group in particular, tonight is not just about winning a medal. It is about a leap that changes everything.

A Generational Showdown

What makes this final so compelling is the generational dynamic at play. Sreeshankar represents the established elite — a man who has competed and medalled at the highest international levels. Aldrin and Lokesh are the rising tide, younger, hungry, and increasingly capable of matching or surpassing him. The rest of the field adds unpredictability that no preview can fully account for.

Long jump finals have a way of producing the unexpected. A perfect stride pattern, a clean takeoff, an extra centimetre of hang time — and the leaderboard reshuffles entirely.

One Runway, Three Title Contenders

Sreeshankar, Aldrin, Lokesh. Any one of them can win this. All three of them want to. And somewhere in the mix, a lesser-fancied athlete may find the jump of his life.

The runway at Birsa Munda Stadium is ready. The sandpit awaits. At 18:00 IST, India’s finest long jumpers take flight.

Federation Cup 2026 runs from May 22–25 at Birsa Munda Stadium, Ranchi.

Indian triple jumper Selva Prabhu continued his remarkable 2026 season by winning gold in the men’s triple jump at the Big 12 Outdoor Track and Field Championships in the United States.

Representing Kansas State University, the 21-year-old produced a huge wind-aided jump of 17.19m (+4.6 m/s) to clinch the conference title against a strong collegiate field.

Although the mark will not count for record purposes due to the excessive tailwind, it once again highlighted the rapid rise of one of India’s most exciting young field event athletes.

Selva, who holds India’s U20 national record in triple jump, has been enjoying a breakthrough season on the American collegiate circuit. Earlier this year, he registered a lifetime best of 17.05m — the first legal 17m-plus jump of his career — while winning silver at the NCAA Indoor Championships, widely regarded as one of the toughest collegiate track and field competitions in the world.

The jump placed him among the leading Indian triple jumpers of his generation and strengthened his growing reputation internationally.

Apart from his success in triple jump, Selva has also shown improvement in the long jump this season, raising his personal best to 7.35m and underlining his all-round athletic ability.

The Big 12 Championships feature several of the strongest NCAA athletics programmes in the United States and regularly serve as a pathway for athletes progressing to global competition. For Selva, performing consistently at that level is another encouraging sign ahead of a crucial phase in Indian athletics.

There is a recurring nightmare in Indian sports that has nothing to do with podium finishes or doping scandals. It is the logistical humiliation of the journey home.

For the second time in recent history, a national-level pole vaulter has been forced to reach out to nnissports as a last resort, pleading for the dignity that their medals should have already bought them. In January 2026, it was Dev Meena and Kuldeep Kumar who faced a similar ordeal. Today, the victim is Kavin Raja, the 2026 U20 Federation Cup champion and the freshly minted gold medalist at the Indoor Nationals in Bhubaneswar.

The image is as jarring as it is shameful: A young man, having just conquered the vault in the U20 category, finds himself stranded for over 12 hours at Rajahmundry railway station. He isn’t alone; he is accompanied by fellow athletes and his primary tool of the trade—his poles.

The Ordeal at Rajahmundry

Pole vaulting is a sport of precision and expensive equipment. Yet, Kavin Raja was forced to navigate an overcrowded train where there was literally no space to breathe, let alone store 15-foot fiberglass poles. With no other option, the athletes tied the poles safely to the outside of the train window.

While the train was in motion, the situation turned from difficult to dangerous. Reports suggest that railway staff, who initially raised no concerns, later cut the ropes securing the equipment while the train was moving. It took an emergency chain pull by a fellow athlete to prevent the destruction of the gear—and a potential disaster on the tracks.

Critics and bureaucrats will undoubtedly hide behind the “Railways Manual,” arguing about luggage dimensions and safety protocols. They will say that poles are “oversized items” and that athletes should follow the bureaucratic labyrinth of freight booking.

But this raises a much larger, more haunting question: How do we actually treat our athletes?

We are a nation that erupts in collective euphoria when an athlete stands on a podium. We tweet our pride and drape them in garlands upon their return. But the reality between the “Gold” and the “Gala” is a grim one. Imagine the scenario: an athlete wins a national championship, represents the future of Indian track and field, and is then expected to be packed like sardines in a general compartment, guarding their life’s work against a system that treats them as a nuisance.

A Systemic Failure

If a musician travels with a cello or a photographer with a tripod, the world understands. Yet, our elite vaulters—the few who can actually clear five meters—are left to negotiate with unsympathetic station masters.

We cannot demand Olympic medals on one hand while allowing our champions to be stranded on railway platforms with their equipment tied to windows like an afterthought.

Kavin Raja’s story has been heard several times over. It is a story of a gold medalist treated like a trespasser. Until we fix the journey, we have no right to celebrate the destination.

If you have been in a similar situation or have more information on Kavin’s current status, DM us or write to us. This needs to change.

India has found a new star in pole vault, and his name is Kuldeep Kumar. In a memorable performance, Kuldeep created history by setting a new national record of 5.41m, going past the previous mark of 5.40m held by Dev Meena.

The big moment came at the Indian Indoor Open Combined Events and Pole Vault competition in Bhubaneswar. Kuldeep first cleared 5.35m, showing strong form. Then came the record-breaking jump 5.41m, a height that now stands as the best ever by an Indian.

He also tried 5.46m, which is just above the Asian Games 2026 qualification mark of 5.45m, but missed it narrowly. Still, this performance showed that he is very close to even bigger heights.

Kuldeep’s progress this season has been steady and impressive.

5.25m at Indian Open Jumps
5.25m at Indian Open Athletics Series
5.41m at Indian Indoor Open Combined Events and Pole Vault competition

This was also his third contest this year with Dev Meena. In Bengaluru, both cleared 5.25m but Meena won on countback. In Jaipur, Kuldeep returned the favour and won on countback. Now, in this third meeting, Kuldeep clearly came out on top with a national record.

Behind him, Reegan Ganesh finished second with 5.25m, while Dev Meena took third place with 5.20m.

After his historic jump, Kuldeep spoke with confidence and calmness “I’m feeling good. It was just luck that Dev couldn’t do it today. It feels great to break the national record. We are confident of doing even better in the coming championships.” He told NNIS Sports..

He also explained how things changed during the competition. “At 5.35m, I changed the pole and started doing better. I cleared 5.41m and just missed 5.46m.”

What makes this story even better is the bond between the two top vaulters. Kuldeep said, “Dev and I train together under the same coach. Training together really helps. Sometimes, Meena even clears 5.50m in training. Together, we will take Indian pole vault to greater heights.”

With this performance, Kuldeep Kumar has not only broken a record but also given Indian athletics a new hope. The way he is improving, crossing 5.45m and beyond now looks just a matter of time.

Lokesh Sathyanathan continued his impressive run of form, equalling his personal best of 8.21m to clinch top spot at the Michael Johnson Invitational.

Fresh off his NCAA men’s long jump title last month—where he first recorded the same 8.21m—Lokesh has now matched that mark again in an outdoor meet, underlining his consistency at the highest level.

He was the only athlete in the competition to breach the 8-metre barrier, standing out in a strong field.

His jump series reflected both stability and peak performance: 7.66m, foul, foul, 8.01m, 8.21m, 8.02m.