Dev Meena And Kuldeep Kumar’s Record Jump Highlights Athlete Welfare Concerns

Record Jump In Ranchi

Dev Meena and Kuldeep Kumar delivered a historic performance at the Federation Cup 2026 in Ranchi by clearing 5.45m in the men’s pole vault final. The achievement made them joint national record holders and also helped them qualify for the 2026 Commonwealth Games. Dev won the gold medal on countback after fewer failed attempts, while Kuldeep shared the record after a strong contest that saw the national mark improve twice in one evening. Their effort became a proud moment for Indian athletics and showed the growing standard of pole vault in the country.

Transport Issue Raises Questions

Soon after the achievement, reports and social media visuals claimed that the two athletes had to carry their five-metre fibreglass poles on a cramped e-rickshaw. The incident led to criticism from sports followers, who questioned why national record holders had to manage basic transport for specialised equipment on their own. The report also recalled an earlier travel issue in which the athletes were allegedly asked to get off a train at Panvel because of their poles. Their record has brought attention to Indian athletics, but it has also raised a bigger concern over basic dignity, logistics, and welfare support for national-level athletes.