Pole Vault Champions Forced To Plead For E-Rikhshaw To Carry 'Equipment' After Winning Medals

Last Updated:May 25, 2026, 09:39 IST

Dev Kumar Meena and Kuldeep Kumar set a new national pole vault record at 5.45m in Ranchi, then had to transport their poles by e rickshaw

Dev Kumar Meena and Kuldeep Kumar made history at the 29th National Senior Athletics Federation Competition in Ranchi by clearing 5.45m in the men’s pole vault, surpassing the previous national record of 5.41m. Yet, even after their record-breaking performances, the two athletes continued to face the everyday struggles that Indian pole vaulters often endure — including transporting their equipment on an e-rickshaw.

Dev won the gold medal on countback, while Kuldeep took silver, with both athletes comfortably clearing the Commonwealth Games qualification mark of 5.25m. Their feat was applauded by the crowd gathered around the pole vault arena, as the duo pushed each other to new heights.

“It was a good day for us and we will continue to push each other to further raise the bar in future," a jubilant Dev Kumar Meena said after winning gold on Sunday.

However, the celebrations were quickly followed by a familiar reality. Just hours after their record-setting effort, Dev and Kuldeep were seen transporting their fibre-glass pole vault poles on an e-rickshaw. Before doing so, they reportedly had to convince the driver that the poles were made of plastic so he would agree to carry them. The equipment was then carefully tied to the vehicle to prevent it from falling during transit.

Watch:

Struggle With Equipment

The incident once again highlighted the logistical challenges faced by Indian athletes in niche disciplines. Last year, Dev travelled to the Federation Cup in Kochi without his equipment because airlines refused to transport it, forcing coach Ghanshyam to carry the poles separately by train.

Earlier this year, Dev and several other pole vaulters were stranded in Mumbai after railway officials objected to the transportation of fibre-glass poles despite government clearance. Visuals of the athletes pleading with authorities sparked criticism over the treatment of track and field competitors in India.

Despite these setbacks, Dev believes strong performances can gradually improve awareness and support for the event.

“A little bit, yes. But we have to do more to change that perception. Till the time Neeraj Chopra won Olympic gold in 2021, not many knew about the sport. Now the whole world knows it. His javelins face no problems. But we still may suffer. It is performances like these that might help us in our cause," he was quoted as saying by The New Indian Express.

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