'Aasman ko chhedna hai' – Dev Meena out to make a dent in the sky with a pole in his hand

Dev Meena started out as a sprinter. 400m was his pet event when he first entered the TT Nagar Sports Complex in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, years ago.

But on Monday, at the 2025 National Games in Uttarakhand, Dev soared high – up and above the Dehradun sky – to set a new Indian men's national record in men's pole vault.

"Aasman ko chhedna hai sir. Unchaiyon ka game hai, vahi rehna hai. I want to create a dent in the sky [using the pole vault]. It is a game of heights and I want to stay there," the 19-year-old Dev told reporters after setting the record.

Dev did expectedly win the gold medal with his 5.32m leap for a successful title defence. He had also won the gold medal at the 2023 National Games in Goa.

Dev's switch from sprints to pole vault came at the behest of his now coach Ghanshyam, who first spotted him at the TT Nagar Sports Complex.

He handed a young Dev, who was on the verge of leaving the world of sports after being bored and no results of impact 400m, a lifeline. The coach felt that Dev, who now stands over 6 feet in height, had the required physical attributes to succeed in pole vault.

It took him some convincing but he managed to get Dev under his wings.

"Ghanshyam sir said that I have a good height and physique," said Dev. "He called me in a group and said I have good hands and got a good grip.

"After he pointed out, I noticed for the first time that I have large hands," he added with a laugh.

Dev, on his part, did not reveal to his family back home at the Silphod Kheda village in Dewas village of Madhya Pradesh that he has switched disciplines.

Much like everything in his career since on and off the field, it was a calculated call.

Pole vault is a dangerous event, even for spectators to watch. Risk of life threatening injuries are high.

Even Dev did not start vaulting right away. Coach Ghanshyam had him practice for more than half-a-year before he was allowed to vault. It was only at this point that he left his family in on the secret.

Though the neighbours in his village, at first, did not understand his obsession with sports – he used to run 100m and 200m having marked the distance with chalk. His family was always supportive.

The fact that his cousin Jay Meena has already achieved great heights for India and even represented the country in Asian Games helped. Dev still looks up to his brother for inspiration and motivation before events.

Even after he started pole vaulting, Dev did not begin competing immediately. It was a tactical decision by Ghanshyam, who did not want to expose him to events so quickly.

Instead, the coach polished him at TT Nagar's pole vault pit for almost two years before first unleashing him at the U18 National Athletics Championships in Guwahati.

"People want to see performances at a young age and get swayed away," said Ghanshyam. "However, that wasn't my goal. I was thinking much bigger."

Any teenager would have lost his patience at this phase. But, not Dev. He put his trust on the coach to guide him to greater heights – literally and figuratively.

"I was training in Bhopal during the pandemic and wanted to return home many times," chimed Dev. "But coach convinced me to stay back."

Dev also did not have access to mobile phones for most of this period. The coach did not want him to lose focus. It was only last year that he got his hands on a smartphone.

Thanks to his rapid rise, pole vault is growing in popularity in the country. Ghanshyam has a few more students under his wings, who took to the sport, impressed by Dev's efforts.

The coach, with his efforts on Dev, hopes to lit a new love for pole vault in India.

The Madhya Pradesh government is also playing its part, having recently brought in Cuba's Angel Esteban Garcia to work with Dev. The 58-year-old Pan American medallist was present at the sidelines as Dev set the national record.

Though Garcia's training methods are yet to fully kick in for Dev, he is slowly growing up to the speed.

At 19, Dev is the youngest national record holder in Indian athletics. With Ghanshyam as his trusted ally, he is set to create a dent in the sky; ready to soar to heights never seen before in Indian pole vault.