Kuldeep Kumar Stuns National Record Holder Dev Meena in Thrilling Pole Vault Showdown
In a dramatic upset at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur, 21-year-old dark horse Kuldeep Kumar delivered a brilliant performance to defeat national record holder Dev Meena in the men's pole vault event during the second Indian Athletics Series 2026 on Sunday. The competition came down to a tense countback after both athletes cleared 5.25 meters on their first attempts, with Kuldeep ultimately claiming the top spot based on earlier countbacks.
Record Attempt Falls Short but Personal Best Equalled
The national record in men's pole vault stands at 5.40 meters, a mark set by Dev Meena at the World University Games in Germany last year. Both competitors attempted to surpass this benchmark with jumps at 5.41 meters, but neither could clear the bar. Despite falling short of the national record, Kuldeep Kumar managed to equal his personal best with his 5.25-meter clearance.
Avneesh Kumar completed the podium with a jump of 5 meters, securing the third position in this highly competitive event.
Jaipur Hosts Second Leg of Prestigious Athletics Series
The Jaipur meet represented the second stop in the 16-event Indian Athletics Series, a new initiative introduced by the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) this season. This one-day competition featured a comprehensive schedule of track and field finals, following the inaugural series event that concluded in Bengaluru just one day earlier.
Notable Performances Across Multiple Disciplines
The competition showcased exceptional talent across various athletic events:
- Yashvir Singh dominated the men's javelin throw with a best effort of 77.00 meters.
- KM Deeksha, who holds the national record of 4:04.78 in women's 1500 meters, secured victory with a time of 4:25.74.
- Sonu claimed top honors in the men's 1500 meters with a time of 3:43.70.
- Rohit sprinted to victory in the men's 100 meters, clocking 10.63 seconds.
Complete Results from Jaipur Athletics Meet
The Indian Athletics Series 2 in Jaipur produced numerous impressive results across both men's and women's categories:
Men's Events Highlights
- Hammer Throw: Ashish Jakhar (65.99m)
- 1500m: Sonu (3:43.70)
- Shot Put: Adarsh Sanjeev Khanna (16.86m)
- Long Jump: Mohd Atta Sazid (7.63m)
- 400m: Vikrant Panchal (46.98s)
- 110m Hurdles: Shivdarshan (14.99s)
- High Jump: Sunil Kumar (2.05m)
- Triple Jump: Dablu Roy (15.63m)
- 3000m Steeplechase: Jujhar Singh (9:05.87)
Women's Events Highlights
- High Jump: Payal Jamod (1.71m)
- 400m: Anchal Rani (54.99s)
- Long Jump: Priya Rathore (6.05m)
- 100m Hurdles: Puja Koleypandit (14.93s)
- Shot Put: Kachnar Chaudhary (15.75m)
- Hammer Throw: Tanya Chaudhary (62.18m)
- Pole Vault: Babita Patel (3.80m)
- Javelin Throw: Uma Choudhary (47.02m)
- 3000m Steeplechase: Anju (10:27.70)
- Triple Jump: Rinku Choudhary (12.29m)
Series Continues with Upcoming Legs
The Indian Athletics Series now progresses to its next two destinations, with events scheduled in New Delhi and Ranchi over the upcoming weekend. This nationwide competition continues to provide a crucial platform for emerging and established athletes to showcase their talents and compete at the highest level of Indian athletics.
