During the inaugural Indian Indoor Open combined Events and Pole Vault Competition held in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, Kuldeep Kumar (21) from Madhya Pradesh achieved a remarkable feat by clearing 5.41 meters, thus setting a new national pole vault record. This record surpassed the previous mark of 5.40 meters established by Dev Kumar Meena in the previous year. Kuldeep also broke the national indoor record of 5.30 meters, which was set earlier in March by Reegan G from Tamil Nadu. Despite a strong showing, Dev Kumar Meena, who equaled his record earlier this year, settled for bronze with a height of 5.20 meters. The competition featured a close contest among the top three athletes, with Reegan G taking silver at 5.25 meters. Kuldeep's performance not only boosts his confidence but also sets a positive tone ahead of the major outdoor domestic competition scheduled for later this month in Ranchi, Jharkhand. Both Kuldeep and Dev Kumar train at the same venue in Madhya Pradesh, and they are now focused on qualifying for the national team for the upcoming Commonwealth Games in Glasgow and the Asian Games. The competition also included events in the heptathlon, with Thowfeeq N leading after Day One.