SendTech Times
SportsNews|May 27, 2026 at 01:54 PM
MARKET SIGNAL:

Record-Breaking Pole Vaulters Face Harsh Reality in India

BySTechTimes Editor|Source: India Today
Article summary

Dev Kumar Meena and Kuldeep Kumar set a joint national record in pole vaulting. Despite their success, they were seen transporting their equipment in an e-rickshaw. This incident highlights ongoing issues with athlete welfare in India.

Record-Breaking Pole Vaulters Face Harsh Reality in India
Image source: indiatoday.in

Historic Achievement

Ranchi, May 25, 2026 - On Sunday, Madhya Pradesh teammates Dev Kumar Meena and Kuldeep Kumar made history in Indian athletics by clearing a joint national record height of 5.45m at the Federation Cup 2026.

Their achievement not only secured them spots at the top of Indian sports but also qualified them for the 2026 Commonwealth Games.

A Disheartening Reality

However, hours after their remarkable feat, a video surfaced on social media revealing a stark contrast to their success.

The newly crowned record-holders were seen crammed into the back of a cramped e-rickshaw, manually hauling their five-meter-long fibreglass poles through the streets.

This sight sparked outrage online, with fans highlighting the systemic failure in athlete welfare.

Pole vaulting requires specialized and fragile equipment, yet these athletes were left to manage their transportation independently.

Ongoing Challenges

The logistics of their sport have proven to be a persistent challenge for Dev and Kuldeep.

Earlier this year, they faced a frustrating situation when they were forced to debate a train at Panvel station by a Travelling Ticket Examiner (TTE) while returning from the All India Inter-University Championships.

Officials claimed they could not carry their poles on board, leaving the champions stranded at the station for nearly five hours.

An emotional Dev Meena later released a video plea questioning the treatment of athletes in India.

This incident further underscores the need for better support and facilities for the nation's athletes.

Share this article
inXf

Related articles

More
Tottenham admit 'football success was not driving decisions'
Sports

Tottenham admit 'football success was not driving decisions'

Tottenham's non-executive chairman Peter Charrington acknowledges the club's failings. The team narrowly avoided relegation, finishing 17th for the second consecutive season. Charrington vows to rebuild and restore the club's footballing identity.

Yash Dayal Breaks Silence on IPL 2026 Absence, Contradicts RCB's Statement
Sports

Yash Dayal Breaks Silence on IPL 2026 Absence, Contradicts RCB's Statement

Yash Dayal addresses his absence from IPL 2026, stating it was not a personal decision. He expresses emotional challenges while watching RCB from home. Dayal's comments contradict RCB's earlier statements regarding his situation.

Elliot Anderson Favors Manchester City Over Manchester United
Sports

Elliot Anderson Favors Manchester City Over Manchester United

Elliot Anderson is leaning towards a move to Manchester City, leaving Nottingham Forest this summer. The midfielder's potential transfer could set a record fee for a British player, surpassing the £105 million paid for Declan Rice. With no European football next season, Forest faces pressure to sell their star player.

Iga Swiatek Dominates Emerson Jones in French Open Opener
Sports

Iga Swiatek Dominates Emerson Jones in French Open Opener

Iga Swiatek kicked off her French Open campaign with a decisive 6-1, 6-2 victory over Emerson Jones. Despite a blister issue, Swiatek remained focused and tactical throughout the match. The hot conditions in Paris did not hinder her performance as she aims for success on clay this season.

Keep Reading

More Stories

Latest
Gulf Hiring Freezes Put AI And Digital Transformation Skills At RiskEconomyJun 10, 2026Gulf Hiring Freezes Put AI And Digital Transformation Skills At RiskGulf companies are using hiring freezes to protect costs, but source-backed labour data shows continued shortages in AI, technology, fintech, compliance and digital transformation roles. The risk is that broad freezes can weaken delivery and retention just as skilled workers in the UAE and Saudi Arabia see strong job-market alternatives.Blue Owl ADGM Office Turns Abu Dhabi Finance Growth Into A Private-Credit SignalEconomyJun 10, 2026Blue Owl ADGM Office Turns Abu Dhabi Finance Growth Into A Private-Credit SignalBlue Owl Capital is opening a regional headquarters in ADGM, adding a $315 billion asset manager to Abu Dhabi financial hub as the centre reports 57% first-quarter growth in assets under management.Belfast Knife Attack Turns Into Public-Order And Migration Test For UK AuthoritiesPoliticsJun 10, 2026Belfast Knife Attack Turns Into Public-Order And Migration Test For UK AuthoritiesPolice in Northern Ireland are investigating a serious Belfast knife attack as attempted murder while urging calm after residents intervened and online footage triggered public-order concerns.Sandstone Raises $30M For AI Workflow Tools In Company Legal TeamsScience & TechJun 10, 2026Sandstone Raises $30M For AI Workflow Tools In Company Legal TeamsSandstone raised $30 million in Series A funding led by Lightspeed Venture Partners to build AI workflow tools for in-house legal teams at small and mid-sized businesses.SpaceX Fixed-Price IPO Turns Retail Allocation Into The Main Market TestScience & TechJun 10, 2026SpaceX Fixed-Price IPO Turns Retail Allocation Into The Main Market TestSpaceX is offering IPO shares at a fixed $135 price, leaving allocation of roughly $75 billion in shares, especially retail access, as the main test before Thursday offering and Friday trading.UAE Salary Deadline Turns WPS Payroll Into A First-Of-Month Payments TestFintech & Digital PaymentsJun 10, 2026UAE Salary Deadline Turns WPS Payroll Into A First-Of-Month Payments TestUAE private-sector salary rules triggered a sharp WPS payroll surge on June 1, with Al Ansari Exchange up more than 151 per cent and Al Fardan Exchange up 136 per cent, turning wage compliance into a first-of-month payments and cash-flow test.Sabertooth's $500 Million SPV Push Turns AI Startup Access Into A ProductAIJun 10, 2026Sabertooth's $500 Million SPV Push Turns AI Startup Access Into A ProductSabertooth Capital has invested nearly $500 million into 10 late-stage AI and deep-tech companies through single-deal SPVs, showing how access to scarce private technology rounds is becoming a product of its own.Google's $4.99 AI Plus Cut Turns Consumer AI Into A Bundle FightAIJun 10, 2026Google's $4.99 AI Plus Cut Turns Consumer AI Into A Bundle FightGoogle cut AI Plus from $7.99 to $4.99 per month and doubled included storage to 400 gigabytes, pushing U.S. consumer AI subscriptions toward lower-priced platform bundles.GM Sodium-Ion Storage Push Turns AI Data Center Power Into A Battery Market TestCloud & Data CentersJun 10, 2026GM Sodium-Ion Storage Push Turns AI Data Center Power Into A Battery Market TestGeneral Motors is expanding into grid-scale energy storage through Peak Energy, LG Energy Solution and Redwood Materials, making AI data center demand a battery commercialization test.NAVER’s 55-Megawatt NVIDIA Buildout Tests Sovereign AI Cloud DemandCloud & Data CentersJun 9, 2026NAVER’s 55-Megawatt NVIDIA Buildout Tests Sovereign AI Cloud DemandNAVER and NVIDIA are expanding sovereign AI infrastructure from a 55-megawatt starting point toward gigawatt scale, tying Korea’s AI factory ambitions to DSX software, GAK Sejong capacity and localized model services.UAE Retail Forecast Turns AI And Luxury Spending Into A $227 Billion Market TestEconomyJun 9, 2026UAE Retail Forecast Turns AI And Luxury Spending Into A $227 Billion Market TestThe UAE retail sector is forecast to reach $227.1 billion by 2033, while smart retail is projected to grow more than twelvefold as luxury demand, tourism, grocery growth and AI-enabled retail systems reshape the market.Perplexity’s 2028 IPO Plan Puts AI Search On The Mega-Listing WatchlistAIJun 9, 2026Perplexity’s 2028 IPO Plan Puts AI Search On The Mega-Listing WatchlistPerplexity CEO Aravind Srinivas said the AI search company is still planning a 2028 IPO as Anthropic, OpenAI and SpaceX prepare large listings that could reset AI valuation expectations.