Kuldeep Singh Vaults to New National Record

Twenty-one-year-old Kuldeep Singh has claimed the senior national pole vault record with a remarkable clearance of 5.41m at the 1st Indian Indoor Open Combined Events & Pole Vault Competition. This surpasses the previous mark set by Dev Kumar Meena. Singh's move to Bhopal to train with Meena proved instrumental in his recent success. He narrowly missed qualifying for the Asian Games, with the qualification standard set at 5.45m. Pole vaulting is a family affair for Kuldeep, growing up in Alawalpur, where all four of his elder brothers were also pole vaulters. Their father supported their athletic pursuits. Despite early successes in high jump, Singh remained dedicated to pole vaulting, ultimately choosing it over a potential career in high jump at a national training center. His career faced challenges, including injuries and a period of inconsistent performance, before his relocation to Bhopal reignited his path to greatness. Singh and Meena, both 21, share a friendly rivalry and aim to be the first Indian men to qualify for the Asian Games in pole vault.