'People Laughed When We Talked About the Asian Games': Dev Meena Reflects After Rewriting Indian Pole Vault History Again

Bhubaneswar, June 25: A few years ago, when Dev Meena's coach Ghanshyam Yadav told him they were preparing to represent India in Pole Vault at the Asian Games and Olympics, even his friends found it difficult to believe.

On Wednesday (June 24), the Madhya Pradesh pole vaulter turned that dream into reality by breaking the national record for the fifth time in the last 18 months and securing qualification for the Asian Games 2026 in Japan at the 65th National Inter-State Senior Athletics Championships in Bhubaneswar.

Under favourable weather conditions at the iconic Kalinga Stadium, Meena cleared 5.46m at to surpass the previous national record of 5.45m (jointly owned by him and Kuldeep Kumar, his teammate from MP) while also breaking the meet record of 5.20m, set by himself. The effort also matched the Asian Games qualification standard, making him one of the biggest stories of the opening day.

After the competition, Meena revealed that patience and reading the windy conditions played a crucial role in his record-breaking jump.

"My mind was on the wind. I was waiting for the wind to stop or support me," he explained while speaking with myKhel.

The conditions were challenging, forcing him to make adjustments during his run-up. "The wind was coming from the front. I changed my position and waited. Then the wind started supporting me. Everyone told me to go for it. My speed increased because of the support."

Even before the successful attempt, Meena felt confident. "In the first attempt, my pole was slightly off to the side, but I was confident I would get a good jump. I knew it was possible."

A Dream That Started Years Ago

For Meena, who picked up the sport at the age of 14, the achievement represented much more than a national record. The U20 World Championships bronze medallist recalled how his coach planted the seed of ambition when he was still a beginner in the sport.

"When I started pole vault, my coach told me that we would prepare for the Asian Games and the Commonwealth Games. At that time, it felt like a dream," he recalled.

"If I had told people back then, even my friends would have laughed. But today that dream has come true," he added (with a smile and a sense of pride).

The 21-year-old was quick to credit the people who stood by him throughout his journey. "Thanks to my coach for his support. From the beginning, he believed we would go to the Asian Games. He also told me that one day we would go to the Olympics."

Family's Sacrifices Fuelled Success

Behind the record-breaking performance lies a story of sacrifice and perseverance. Meena - who's elder brother Raj Meena is also a pole vaulter - spoke emotionally about his family's financial struggles during the early stages of his career and the support he received from his mother.

"In the beginning, things were not easy. We had financial problems at home. My mother used to send me money whenever she could and supported me a lot," he said.

"I want to make my family proud. That is very important to me. I also want to make my coach proud because he has helped me reach this level."

The athlete also thanked everyone who contributed to his development, including the training centres and support staff who helped shape his career.

Technical Challenges Along the Way

Despite the success, Meena admitted that pole selection remains one of the most difficult aspects of competition. "Pole exchange is always a big challenge for me," he said.

"You have to decide which pole will be softer, which one will be harder and which one is best suited for the conditions. From the beginning, I wanted to make the right decisions and manage those changes accurately."

His ability to make those adjustments under pressure ultimately proved decisive in Bhubaneswar.

Eyes on Bigger Targets

The national record may be a major milestone, but Meena believes it is only the beginning. Having secured Asian Games qualification, the young vaulter is already thinking about the next step.

"We have come this far, and now we want to go further. I want to keep improving The Asian Games is one dream achieved, but the Olympics is still there," he said.

Meena's 5.46m clearance may not yet place him among Asia's medal favourites, but its significance extends beyond rankings. In a discipline where Indian athletes have historically struggled for visibility, infrastructure and support, his national record serves as a reminder that progress is possible. For now, the challenge is not just how high Meena can vault, but whether Indian pole vaulting can build on the platform he has created.