Indian pole vaulters Dev Kumar Meena and Kuldeep Kumar created history at the National Senior Athletics Federation Competition in Ranchi by clearing 5.45m and breaking the national record. Dev secured the gold medal on countback, while Kuldeep settled for silver despite matching the same height.
However, hours after their achievement, the athletes were seen travelling in an e-rickshaw with their pole vault equipment loaded alongside them. The images quickly went viral on social media, with many questioning the level of support available to athletes competing at the highest level.
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The performance also ensured both athletes crossed the Athletics Federation of India’s qualification mark of 5.25m for the 2026 Commonwealth Games. Earlier this year, the duo had also faced travel issues when railway officials reportedly objected to them carrying their pole vault equipment on a train.
