Athletics
National Games 2025: Dev Meena breaks pole vault national record
Despite his record-breaking jump, Meena’s 5.32m clearance was 19cm short of the 5.51m qualifying standard set for the Asian Athletics Championships.
Dev Meena has etched his name into Indian athletics history by setting a new national record in men’s pole vault, clearing 5.32m at the National Games 2025, on Monday.
He surpassed the previous record of 5.31m, set by Siva Subramani in 2022, and won the gold medal.
However, despite his historic achievement, Meena fell short of the Asian Athletics Championships qualification mark of 5.51m, set by the Athletics Federation of India (AFI).
Hailing from Shilfod Kheda, a small village in Dewas district, Madhya Pradesh, Meena’s journey to the top has been nothing short of inspirational.
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Coming from a village of just 700 people, with limited sports infrastructure, his rise to prominence in Indian athletics is a testament to his talent.
His training at the MP Athletics Academy has been instrumental in his success, providing him with the necessary coaching, exposure, and support to compete at the highest level.
Meena has consistently performed at the national and international levels, including a gold medal at the 27th Senior National Federation Championship in Bhubaneswar, clearing 5.10m, and a bronze medal at the 21st Asian Junior Athletics Championship (U-20) in Dubai, marking Madhya Pradesh’s first-ever international medal in pole vault.
