Bhubaneswar, Odisha : The inaugural Indian Indoor Open Combined Events & Pole Vault Competition 2026 kicked off this weekend at the world-class indoor facility of Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar. Over two days (May 2–3), India’s premier pole vaulters and multi-event athletes will be in action, drawing attention from athletics enthusiasts nationwide.
National Record Holders Take Centre Stage
The men’s and women’s fields feature the country’s leading pole vault talents:
Dev Kumar Meena (Madhya Pradesh), the men’s national record holder, has been a consistent performer this season, having cleared 5.40m — a height he equalled during an invitational meet in Taiwan.
Baranica Elangovan (Tamil Nadu) will be the focal point of the women’s competition. Her best this season — 4.22m — is also the current national indoor record.
Meena said, “My goal here in Bhubaneswar is to do my personal best. I enjoyed my practice sessions at the Kalinga Stadium Indoor facility. I’m ready to do my best.”
Competition Format and Stakes
The two-day meet brings together over 80 athletes, featuring both senior and U20 events. Alongside pole vault, the competition includes heptathlon (for men) and pentathlon (for women), covering disciplines like:
- 60m sprint
- Long jump
- Shot put
- High jump
- 60m hurdles
- 800m / 1000m middle-distance run
- AFI Qualification Standards
- Men’s Pole Vault – Commonwealth Games (Glasgow): 5.25m
- Men’s Pole Vault – Asian Games: 5.45m
- Women’s Pole Vault – Commonwealth Games (Glasgow): 4.45m
- Women’s Pole Vault – Asian Games: 4.10m
Fourteen athletes compete in the senior men’s pole vault on the opening day, while 11 entrants are confirmed for the women’s final on Sunday. Also on display are rising U20 vaulters and combined-event hopefuls aiming for breakthrough performances.
Looking Ahead: Beyond Bhubaneswar
This competition not only provides domestic match practice but also serves as an important benchmark ahead of major international assignments including the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow and the Asian Games in Japan later this year.
The indoor facility at Kalinga Stadium is rapidly becoming a key hub for Indian athletics — it will also host the World Indoor Championships in 2028, marking India’s first time staging this global event.
With national records, rising talents, and high qualification stakes on display, the Indian Indoor Open Combined Events & Pole Vault Competition 2026 in Bhubaneswar promises not just thrilling competition this weekend but a stepping stone in India’s indoor athletics journey.
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