Father Gone, Mother a Tailor, Pole Borrowed: Karnataka's Sindhushree Soars to National Record and Asian Games Berth

Bhubaneswar, June 25: Just a few years ago, Sindhushree G was fighting a battle that had little to do with pole vaulting. After losing her father, Ganesh R, an electrician, in 2022, the Karnataka athlete found herself under immense pressure to put her sporting ambitions aside and support her family financially.

On Thursday (June 25), competing at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar, the 25-year-old achieved a remarkable high in her journey by breaking the national record in women's pole vault and securing qualification for the Asian Games 2026.

The Shimoga-born pole vaulter cleared a record 4.25m to win gold at the 65th National Inter-State Senior Athletics Championships, surpassing Baranica Elangovan's national record of 4.23m.

She also bettered the Asian Games qualification standard of 4.10m and rewrote the meet record. Baranica clinched a silver with a clearance of 4.20m and also qualified for Asiad.

Yet behind the record-breaking jump lies a story of sacrifice, uncertainty and unwavering belief.

'It Feels Like a Dream'

Even after creating history, Sindhushree admitted she was still struggling to process what she had achieved. "My focus was only on qualifying for the Asian Games. I had been trying for the last two or three competitions, but it wasn't happening," she told myKhel.

"Now it has happened. It feels like a dream. I still can't believe I have broken the national record. I dedicate my gold medal to my late father," an emotional Sindhshree added further.

For Sindhushree, the primary target was always securing a place in the Indian team for the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya. The national record, she says, was an unexpected bonus.

The Borrowed Pole That Changed Everything

One of the most remarkable aspects of Sindhushree's achievement is that she arrived in Bhubaneswar without owning the pole that eventually helped her break the national record.

For months, she had been struggling with equipment issues. "I have competed in five competitions recently, but I wasn't getting the right pole. The poles were either too soft or unsuitable, and I wasn't able to perform well," she explained.

"This time I finally got the correct pole and everything came together."

The pole she used was not even hers. According to her coach Vijeesh - who works at SAI Bengaluru - the pole had originally been purchased by another athlete who had been wrongly advised regarding specifications. By a stroke of fortune, it eventually found its way to Sindhushree. "Luckily, the pole she needed is the one she got," her coach," he said.

A Family That Kept Believing

Sindhushree's road to the national record became even more difficult after the death of her father in 2022. Her father had always dreamed of seeing his daughter represent India. "My father always wanted me to do something in sports and play for India," she recalled.

"He passed away in 2022 due to a prolonged illness and heart attack. About one-and-a-half years later, I qualified for the World University Games. At that moment, he wasn't there to see it."

Today, her family consists of her mother, younger sister, grandfather and grandmother. The family's financial backbone is her grandfather, who continues to support everyone.

"My grandfather is helping us financially with his pension. He supports my mother, my sister and me." Her mother supplements the family income through tailoring work but that isn't enough.

Despite the financial struggles, Sindhushree refused to abandon her sporting ambitions. After her father's death, relatives and well-wishers encouraged her to find a job and help support the family.

As the elder daughter, the responsibility naturally fell on her shoulders. But she had one request. "Initially there was a pressure from the family to pick up a job and support them. There was a I asked my family to give me some time and allow me to continue competing. I didn't want to give up on my dream."

The Hidden Costs of Pole Vault

While athletics may appear glamorous from the outside, pole vault remains one of India's most demanding and expensive disciplines. Athletes often struggle to access equipment, coaching support, physiotherapy and recovery services.

Sindhushree currently trains in Bengaluru but says she has limited access to facilities beyond the basic training ground. "I only use the ground. I don't get access to many other facilities," she said.

Her coach highlighted the financial burden faced by athletes competing outside major support systems. "In high-performance sport, athletes need physiotherapy, massage, recovery support and proper nutrition. All of this costs money," he said.

"She comes from a middle-class family. She cannot keep calling home asking for more money because the family itself is struggling."

The challenges extend beyond finances.

Pole vaulters regularly face logistical difficulties while transporting their equipment across the country. Many have spoken about facing problems while travelling with poles on trains and dealing with a lack of awareness about the sport.

Despite the recent rise of athletes like Dev Meena and now Sindhushree, pole vault remains one of the least understood disciplines in Indian athletics.

A Plea for Support

Although she is now a national record holder and Asian Games qualifier, Sindhushree says support has been limited. Apart from prize money earned from previous competitions, financial assistance has been scarce.

"I won a junior national medal and received ₹25,000. Later, I won a medal at the Inter-State Championships and received ₹50,000. Beyond that, I haven't received much support," she said.

Now, with the Asian Games on the horizon, she hopes the Karnataka Government will step in and help her prepare properly.

Her ambition is no longer just qualification. She wants a medal. "Everyone wants to finish on the podium," she said.

For that dream to become reality, she knows she will need better equipment, international exposure and financial backing.

For now, though, Sindhushree has already achieved something extraordinary.

A daughter who lost her father, competed with borrowed equipment and fought off pressure to leave sport behind now stands as India's national record holder in women's pole vault. And her story is only just beginning.