Pole vaulters Dev Meena & Kuldeep Kumar on competition, gratitude for Commonwealth Games 2026

Dev Meena and Kuldeep Kumar are healthy competitors

Few partnerships have influenced the rise of Indian athletics quite like that of pole vaulters Dev Meena and Kuldeep Kumar. Training together at the Inspire Institute of Sport (IIS), the two young athletes have played a defining role in raising the standard of men’s pole vault in India.

Their journeys have evolved in tandem—constantly challenging one another in training, sharing milestones, and rewriting expectations for the event. From jointly clearing a then national record of 5.45m at the Federation Cup to Dev improving it further with a 5.46m jump at the Inter-State Championships, their friendly rivalry has become one of the driving forces behind Indian pole vault’s rapid progress.

Now, as they prepare for the Commonwealth Games, both athletes are ready to test themselves against the world’s best while carrying forward the momentum they have built together.

For Dev, training alongside Kuldeep has been one of the biggest factors in his development as an athlete.

Dev Meena: “Having Kuldeep with me every day in training has helped both of us improve. We keep pushing each other, and that healthy competition has made a big difference to our performances. Pole vault is an event where you have to stay patient because every competition teaches you something. At IIS, we have a great team supporting us with coaching, strength training and recovery, so we can focus completely on improving. Now it’s about putting all that preparation into practice at the Commonwealth Games.”

Kuldeep believes their shared journey has not only helped them individually but has also contributed to the growth of the event in India.

Kuldeep Kumar: “When you’re training with someone who is competing at the same level, you naturally want to get better every day. We motivate each other and celebrate each other’s progress, but we also know that every good performance pushes Indian pole vault forward. The environment at IIS has given us everything we need to prepare well throughout the season. Once the competition starts, it’s about staying calm, trusting your training and making every jump count.”

While their rivalry has fuelled their progress, the Commonwealth Games presents a shared opportunity to represent India on one of sport’s biggest stages.

Meena and Kuldeep are grateful for Commonwealth Games opportunity

Dev Meena: “Representing India is always a proud feeling. Every athlete dreams of competing at events like the Commonwealth Games, and I’ll give everything I have every time I step onto the runway.”

Kuldeep Kumar: “It’s an honour to wear the India jersey. We’ve worked hard for this opportunity, and now we’re looking forward to competing against the best and making the most of the experience.”

The Commonwealth Games marks another chapter in a journey the two athletes have largely shared—from training partners to national record holders and now teammates representing India on the international stage. Backed by the high-performance environment at the Inspire Institute of Sport and driven by a mutual pursuit of excellence, Dev Meena and Kuldeep Kumar will look to continue raising the bar—not just for themselves, but for Indian pole vault as a whole.

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