MP's Dev Meena sets new national pole vault record
Bhopal:
Dev Meena
, a pole vaulter from a small village in Dewas district, MP, established a new national record with a 5.35 m clearance at the
28th National Federation Athletics Championship 2025
in Kochi on Tuesday.
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This surpassed his previous mark of 5.32 m, set at the Uttarakhand National Games in February this year.
Tamil Nadu athletes claimed the other podium positions, with M. Gwatham securing silver by clearing 5.15 m, whilst his teammate Reagan G. achieved bronze with a 5.10 m effort.
Two years ago, he secured a bronze medal in pole vault at the Asian Junior Athletics Championship (U-20) in Dubai, achieving the first international medal for Madhya Pradesh in this event.
The MP Athletics Academy has offered sustained assistance through specialised training initiatives and contemporary equipment, enabling him to enhance his technique and physical capabilities. His coach and academy personnel devoted considerable effort to improve his performance through structured training regimens.
Despite resource constraints in his village, Meena's family provided unwavering support for his athletic endeavours.
His father, who works as a farmer, made significant sacrifices to facilitate his regular training at the Bhopal academy. The village community has shown strong backing, celebrating his successes and motivating other young athletes.
His achievements have highlighted rural athletes' potential and the requirement for enhanced sports facilities in smaller regions. The MP govt has subsequently revealed plans to improve district-level sports centre infrastructure, with emphasis on athletics disciplines.
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Meena's future aspirations include participation in significant international competitions. His present performance level positions him favourably for forthcoming Asian Championships and other international events. The athletics federation considers him a suitable candidate for specialist overseas training programmes.
His progress serves as motivation for emerging athletes, especially those from rural areas.
The MP Athletics Academy now experiences greater admission numbers, with numerous young athletes aspiring to replicate Meena's achievements.
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