Commonwealth Games 2026: All you need to know about Dev Meena

Dev Kumar Meena has emerged as one of India's best pole vaulters in history after a rapid rise over the past few seasons.

The 21-year-old from Madhya Pradesh has rewritten the national record multiple times, becoming one of the country's leading athletes in an event that has traditionally received little attention.

His performances have earned him a place in India's squad for the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, where he will look to gain valuable international experience while continuing his steady progression.

Early days

Born on May 7, 2005, in Madhya Pradesh's Dewas district, Dev Meena did not begin his athletics journey as a pole vaulter.

He initially competed in the 400m before coach Ghanshyam Yadav recognised that his physique and athletic attributes were better suited to the pole vault.

The decision proved to be a turning point. Dev began training at the Madhya Pradesh Athletics Academy in Bhopal, where he steadily developed under Yadav's guidance.

He has also worked with international coach Ángel García while pursuing a Bachelor of Arts degree at Khalsa College, Amritsar.

Training alongside fellow pole vaulter Kuldeep Kumar has also contributed to his rapid improvement, with the pair pushing each other to new national standards.

Rising through the ranks

Dev's progress has been consistent year after year. He cleared 4.60m in 2022 before improving to 5.16m in 2023, a season highlighted by a gold medal at the National Games.

In 2024, he added an international medal to his resume by winning bronze at the Asian U20 Athletics Championships in Dubai with a clearance of 5.10m.

The following year marked another breakthrough. Dev cleared 5.40m to set a new Indian national record and finished fifth at the FISU World University Games in Germany, continuing to establish himself among India's leading pole vaulters.

Record-breaking season

The 2026 season has seen Dev take another significant step forward.

At the Federation Cup in Ranchi, he cleared 5.45m to jointly improve the national record alongside training partner Kuldeep Kumar, claiming the title on countback.

A month later, he raised the bar once again by clearing 5.46m, setting his fifth national record in roughly two years. The performance also secured qualification for both the 2026 Commonwealth Games and the Asian Games.

His steady improvements have mirrored the growing standard of Indian pole vault, with Dev and Kuldeep regularly exchanging national records and pushing the event to new heights.

Eyes on Glasgow 2026

Dev heads to his first Commonwealth Games as one of two Indian representatives in the men's pole vault.

While the event features several established international competitors, Glasgow offers the young vaulter another opportunity to test himself against a stronger field and continue his development.

At just 21, Dev has already played an important role in raising the standard of Indian pole vault.

From switching events as a teenager to becoming a multiple-time national record holder, his progress reflects the emergence of a new generation of Indian field event athletes who continue to expand the country's presence on the international stage.