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.

At a young age, Dev has already built a reputation for consistency. He is not loud, not flashy, but every time he steps onto the runway, he delivers. And that is what makes him special.
This season, he has already matched the national record of 5.40m, proving that his performances last year were no fluke. In fact, his journey over the past year shows clear progress  5.32m, 5.35m, and now 5.40m multiple times. It is a pattern of growth, not a one-off result.
A few weeks ago in Taiwan, he equalled the national record again. More importantly, he attempted 5.50m and came very close.
But Dev is not satisfied.
“In my opinion, the start of my 2026 season hasn’t been that good. I could have performed better,” he told Nnis Sports.“In Taiwan, the wind was very strong… otherwise, I could have easily cleared 5.50m.”
 Even at his best, he feels there is more to give.
Now, all eyes shift to the Indoor Combined Events Meet in Bhubaneswar, where Dev will compete alongside Reegan Ganesh and Kuldeep Yadav. Reegan has cleared 5.30m and is in top form, while Kuldeep is also improving steadily. The competition will be tight and that’s exactly what Dev wants.
“My target for tomorrow is 5.45m or more… I’ll get a strong push as Kuldeep Kumar and Reegan Ganesh are both in very good form.”
The number 5.45m is not just another mark. It is the qualification standard for the Asian Games 2026, a height no Indian male pole vaulter has ever officially achieved for qualification.
What works in his favour is his calm approach. He understands conditions, adapts quickly, and learns from every competition. Even though he mostly trains outdoors, he arrived early in Bhubaneswar to adjust to indoor conditions a small detail that shows his preparation.
At just 18, Mohammed Ashfaq is quickly becoming one of the most exciting names in Indian athletics. The Kerala sprinter delivered a stunning performance, clocking 46.05 seconds in the 400m, a new U20 national record and the fastest time in Asia this season.
What makes this run even more special is the scale of improvement. Ashfaq shaved nearly half a second off his personal best, a huge leap in a one-lap race. His timing now stands as India’s seventh fastest this season and places him 20th on the country’s all-time list.
His rise, however, has been building steadily. At the start of 2026, he ran 48.10s in Trivandrum. Soon after, he improved to 46.83s in New Delhi, showing clear progress.
At the ongoing Junior Federation Cup, he dominated the heats with 47.39s, breaking the Asian U20 qualification mark, and followed it up with another strong 46.83s in the semifinals.
Now, with both Asian and World U20 standards achieved, Ashfaq is knocking on the door of the elite sub-46 club. If this momentum continues, Indian 400m running may have found its next big star.

At Nairobi’s Kip Keino Classic, Sri Lanka’s Rumesh Tharanga Pathirage delivered a sensational performance in the men’s javelin, setting a meeting record of 89.28m with his second throw. The mark reinforced his recent personal best of 89.37m, proving his rise is no fluke.

Germany’s Thomas Röhler, the 2016 Olympic champion, finished second with 83.33m — his best effort since 2019 and a clear sign of resurgence.

The competition highlighted a compelling mix of emerging dominance and experienced pedigree, with Pathirage establishing consistency at the elite level, while Röhler’s return to form adds intrigue to the global javelin landscape this season.

Indian long jumper Murali Sreeshankar is set to compete at the Simbine Classic on April 28 in South Africa.

Sreeshankar opened his 2026 season at the Indian Open Athletics Series 1 with a best jump of 8.15m, signalling strong early form.

So far this year, only two Indian athletes have crossed the 8m mark in men’s long jump — Lokesh Sathyanathan with 8.21m and Sreeshankar himself with 8.15m.

As he heads into the Simbine Classic, Sreeshankar will look to build on this momentum against an international field.

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.

There are performances that win competitions, and then there are performances that change the conversation. Tajinderpal Singh Toor’s 21.03m throw at the Indian Athletics Series-4 belongs firmly in the second category.
On paper, it is a winning mark. In reality, it is something more, a signal that one of India’s most accomplished field athletes has found his way back.
For nearly three years, the 21-metre barrier had remained untouched by Toor. In shot put, that number is not just a statistic; it is a benchmark that separates the good from the elite. Crossing it again is less about one throw and more about restoring belief both personal and public.
“I’m really happy to have crossed 21 metres again after three years,” Toor said, acknowledging a phase where performances did not match expectations.
His series in New Delhi told its own story. There was no desperation, no reliance on a single big effort. Instead, there was control multiple throws beyond 20 metres, gradual build-up, and finally, the breakthrough at 21.03m. That kind of consistency is often a better indicator of form than a one-off big throw.
But numbers alone do not capture the journey behind this performance.
The past two years have been difficult. Injuries disrupted rhythm, including an ankle issue that forced him to step away from training for months. “I had to stop training for 5–6 months… my body became very unfit,” he admitted.
There were also personal challenges, moments that do not appear in result sheets but leave a lasting impact. In such phases, athletes often face not just physical setbacks, but public doubt. Toor did too.
“People say it’s over for me… but why should I leave?” he asked.
That question defines this comeback.
What makes this performance significant is not just the distance, but the direction. It places Toor back among Asia’s leading shot putters at a time when competition on the continent is steadily rising. It also restores India’s presence in an event that saw a dip last season, when even the 20m mark went untouched domestically.
Yet, Toor himself is not satisfied.
“The throw I’ve been achieving in training, I haven’t managed to replicate it in competition yet,” he said, making it clear that 21.03m is not his end goal.
That mindset may be the most important takeaway. For an athlete who already owns the national record (21.77m), this phase is not about proving ability, it is about chasing excellence again.
There is also a larger vision at play. Toor wants to raise the standard of Indian shot put. “I want to set such a big Indian record that even 21 metres starts to look like a small mark,” he said.
That ambition goes beyond individual success. It speaks to a shift in mindset from competing within limits to redefining them. For now, the message is simple and clear.
21 metres is no longer a memory for Toor. It is once again his starting point.

Tanya Chaudhary hadn’t even planned to compete. Recovering from a fever, the expectation was simple: rest, reset, move on. Instead, she showed up—and took control of the women’s hammer throw at the Indian Athletics Series – 3.

Her series told the story of someone finding rhythm on the fly. 58.09m to open. Then 61.29m—the winning mark. Another over 60m at 60.70m. A miss. And finally, 59.27m to close.

First place, comfortably.

There was no perfect build-up, no ideal conditions. Just execution. Chaudhary crossed the 60m mark twice, a benchmark that matters, especially when the body isn’t fully there.

She later told Nnis Sports that competing wasn’t even part of the plan. But once inside the circle, that changed. The throws weren’t just enough—they were decisive.

Shaili Singh is currently leading the women’s long jump after three rounds at the Indian Athletics Series in New Delhi.

She recorded a best jump of 6.24m in her second attempt and chose to pass her third attempt.

Mubassina Mohammed is in second place with a best of 6.05m, achieved in her third attempt.

So far, these are the only two athletes to have crossed the 6m mark in the competition.

Series so far:
• Mubassina — 5.98m, foul, 6.05m
• Shaili — foul, 6.24m, pass

The competition remains open heading into the remaining rounds.

The Athletics Federation of India (AFI) will host the 1st Indian Indoor Open Combined Events & Pole Vault Competition 2026 on May 2–3 in Bhubaneswar, Odisha.

The competition promises high drama with India’s top pole vaulters in peak form:

With multiple athletes performing at record-breaking levels, the Bhubaneswar meet is set to be a showcase of India’s indoor athletics talent.