Overview

• Dev Meena cleared 5.35m at the National Federation Senior Athletics Championships in Kochi, surpassing his previous record of 5.32m set in February 2025.
• Despite his record-breaking performance, Meena remains below the 5.51m qualifying standard for the Asian Championships.
• Meena, who switched to pole vaulting just over three years ago, trains at the Madhya Pradesh State Sports Department’s academy in Bhopal under coach Ghanshyam Yadav.
• The academy has enlisted Cuban coach Angel Eduardo Garcia Esteban, whose technical guidance has contributed to Meena’s rapid improvement.
• Looking ahead, Meena aims to compete at the World University Games and qualify for the 2026 Asian Games as he continues to refine his technique and raise his performance.