New Delhi: Madhya Pradesh athletes Dev Kumar Meena and Kuldeep Kumar both cleared 5.45m to break the national pole vault record at the National Senior Athletics Federation meet in Ranchi on Sunday, but Dev won the gold medal on countback after a close contest on the third and final day of the event.Hours after becoming the joint national record holders, the two players were spotted leaving the Bursa Munda Stadium in an e-rickshaw with their poles and equipment.The photos sparked a backlash online, with many questioning the lack of support for the players. Pool vault equipment is special, heavy and delicate, but both athletes had to arrange transport for the equipment in an e-rickshaw.Earlier this year, Dev and Kuldeep also faced problems while traveling after the All India Inter-University Championship. While returning from the event, both were asked by the TTE to get off the train at Panvel station. Railway officials, referring to the poles as “steel pipes”, asked them to pay a fine for carrying their pole vault inside the coach.His struggles off the field were in stark contrast to his performances in Ranchi, where the men’s pole vault final became one of the highlights of the competition.Kuldeep entered the event as the national record holder with a mark of 5.41m, but Dev was the first athlete to break it with 5.42m during the competition.The lead changed within minutes as Kuldeep responded by clearing 5.45m. Dev then competed at the same height, ensuring that both athletes finished the event as joint national record holders.Although both cleared 5.45m, Dev Kumar Meena won the gold medal on countback, while Kuldeep Kumar bagged the silver medal.Countback is a tie-breaking method used in pole vault and high jump events when athletes clear the same height. The winner is decided based on who required the least effort during the competition.Both athletes also cleared the 2026 Commonwealth Games qualification mark of 5.25m set by the Athletics Federation of India.
