This week, two pole-vaulters from Madhya Pradesh—Kuldeep Kumar and Dev Meena—made headlines not only for breaking a national pole vault record, but also for what they had to endure right after the achievement. In a viral video shared in connection with the story, the athletes are shown struggling to carry their long pole vault poles using an e-rickshaw, highlighting the practical difficulties and lack of basic support that non-cricket sports competitors often face.
The video’s central moment captures the athletes fitting their poles into the small vehicle, a scene that quickly went beyond sports logistics and turned into a broader commentary about India’s uneven attention toward different sports. While pole vault is a highly technical discipline that demands specialized equipment and careful handling, the athletes’ situation reflects the reality that many competitors in sports outside the mainstream may not receive adequate infrastructure, sponsorship, or transportation support that would normally make a difference after major accomplishments.
Randeep Gill—whose name is attached to the discussion around the incident—used the moment to draw attention to the larger pattern of how sports culture in India heavily prioritizes cricket. In the framing of the story, the video is used as evidence of how the country’s sports obsession can narrow public focus and funding streams, often leaving less popular sports with fewer resources. Gill’s emphasis is not just about the athletes’ immediate inconvenience, but about the systemic imbalance between cricket and other sporting fields.
Kuldeep Kumar and Dev Meena’s national record breaking achievement signals that talent exists across India and can achieve at a high level. However, the story suggests that recognition and support do not always move at the same pace as performance. After the record, one might expect smoother arrangements—appropriate vehicles, equipment transportation, or support staff who can manage the specialized gear needed for pole vault. Instead, the scene of the poles being fitted into an e-rickshaw underscores how competitors can still be left to navigate basic challenges on their own.
Pole vault poles are not ordinary sports gear. They require careful transport to avoid damage, and the sport’s success depends on training consistency as well as reliable access to proper equipment. When athletes have to improvise transport because of limited backing, it can affect preparation, reduce safety margins, and add stress precisely when competitors should be focusing on upcoming training or competitions. In this sense, the video becomes more than a fleeting visual; it points to the day-to-day obstacles that athletes in non-cricket sports may confront.
The story also echoes a familiar theme: while cricket receives extensive coverage, lucrative sponsorships, and strong institutional focus, many athletes in other disciplines struggle for visibility. This disparity can shape how corporate support and media attention are allocated. When audiences and broadcasters concentrate heavily on one sport, it becomes harder for smaller disciplines to gain widespread awareness, which in turn limits the momentum needed to build better systems for training, transportation, and athlete welfare.
By highlighting the athletes’ post-achievement journey, the incident draws attention to the gap between success and support. It raises questions about what it means to celebrate national champions while failing to provide them with the basic comforts and logistical help that reflect their accomplishments. The story’s message is that a true sports ecosystem should respond to excellence not only with praise, but also with practical investment.
The viral video therefore serves as a catalyst for public discussion. It encourages viewers to consider whether India’s sports priorities are aligned with the goal of developing broad-based athletic talent, or whether they remain constrained by cricket-centric attention. The example of Kuldeep Kumar and Dev Meena is used to demonstrate what can happen when other sports are overlooked: athletes can achieve remarkable milestones, yet still face avoidable hardships due to insufficient support.
In summary, the news centers on pole vaulters from Madhya Pradesh—Kuldeep Kumar and Dev Meena—who broke a national pole vault record and were then shown in a video struggling to fit their poles into an e-rickshaw. The incident is presented as a wider critique of India’s sports culture, where cricket dominates attention and resources, potentially leaving other athletes without the infrastructure or backing they need. Source: Source
Randeep Gill: Kuldeep Kumar and Dev Meena, two athletes from Madhya Pradesh, were forced to fit their poles in an e-rickshaw after breaking the national pole vault record this week. The video shows how India’s selective sports obsession with cricket often comes at the cost of other sports.. #breaking
— @Randeep44009128 May 1, 2026
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