Dev Meena and Kuldeep Kumar ignite record-ripping rivalry, become joint national pole vault record holders

Day three of the 2026 Federation Games in Ranchi was packed with multiple record-breaking performances on Sunday. Pole vaulters Dev Meena and Kuldeep Kumar stole the show with an electrifying duel at the Birsa Munda Stadium.

Indian athletics was at its peak at the sporting event in Ranchi, with multiple national records being rewritten across events such as decathlon, sprint, high jump and pole vault. With marquee events like the Commonwealth Games and Asian Games happening soon, India has proven it can rise to the highest stages of global competition.

Dev & Kuldeep engage in thrilling pole vault showdown

Dev initially surpassed Kuldeep's previous national record after clearing 5.42m, edging past the 5.41m mark set in Bhubaneswar earlier in May. But Kuldeep outperformed his compatriot with a 5.45m jump. Minutes later, Dev equalled Kuldeep's jump, keeping the contest alive.

Dev and Kuldeep also attempted the 5.50m but fell short. But the Indian pole vaulters finished with a new joint national record, which helped them secure qualification for the Asian Games. Dev eventually secured the gold medal on countback.

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Notably, Kuldeep and Dev train together at the Madhya Pradesh Academy, making their rivalry both competitive and collaborative. Their coach, Ghanshyam Yadav, also spoke about the athletes' performance and praised the effort.

“We had the 5.50m mark in mind when we came here. We went for that, but I’m glad that our boys could improve the national record,” said Ghanshyam Yadav, as quoted by The Indian Express.

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Indian sprinting rivalry also heats up

The 2026 Federation Cup also witnessed the historic battle on the track between sprinters Gurindervir Singh and Animesh Kujur. In the semifinal heats on Friday, Gurindervir initially broke the national record with a 10.17 run, only for Animesh to reclaim it in the next sprint with 10.15 seconds.

The rivalry intensified on Saturday when Gurindervir produced a stunning 10.09-second sprint, bettering the national record once again and becoming the first Indian ever to go past the 10.10 barrier. His performance not only rewrote history but also secured qualification for both the Commonwealth Games and the Asian Games.

Animesh finished second with a timing of 10.20 seconds, while sprinter Pranav Pramod claimed third place with a 10.29-second effort.