India’s Top Pole Vaulter Dev Meena Asked to Get Off Train Over Carrying Sports Gear, Video Goes Viral

India’s leading men’s pole vaulter Dev Meena has found himself at the centre of a major controversy after being asked to deboard a train at Panvel station by a Travelling Ticket Examiner (TTE) for carrying his pole vault equipment. A video of the incident has gone viral, sparking widespread criticism and raising serious questions about the treatment of athletes travelling with essential sports gear.

The incident occurred while Meena and fellow national-level pole vaulter Kuldeep Yadav were returning from the All India Inter-University Championships. Despite holding valid tickets, the athletes were allegedly told by the TTE that they were not permitted to carry pole vault poles on board and were forced to get off the train at Panvel.

According to the athletes, what followed was a harrowing ordeal. Meena and Yadav claimed they were stranded at the station for nearly five hours while repeatedly trying to explain that the poles were not optional luggage but essential equipment required for their discipline. The athletes said their requests for clarification or alternative solutions were ignored.

A detailed video shared by sports platform NNIS shows Meena expressing anguish over the treatment he faced. In the video, the national record holder questioned how Indian athletes could be expected to excel on the global stage when basic logistical challenges like travelling with sports equipment were met with harassment.

“If this can happen to someone who represents India and holds a national record, imagine what junior athletes must be facing,” Meena said in the video, visibly upset by the experience.

The episode has triggered strong reactions on social media, with athletes, coaches, and sports fans criticising Indian Railways officials for a lack of sensitivity and awareness regarding sporting requirements. Many users pointed out that pole vault equipment is standard for the sport and that athletes frequently travel with such gear for competitions.

Dev Meena is currently India’s national record holder in men’s pole vault. The Madhya Pradesh athlete broke his own national mark in April 2025 at the National Federation Senior Athletics Championships, clearing 5.35 metres at just 19 years of age. He had earlier set the previous record of 5.32 metres at the Uttarakhand National Games.

Despite his achievements, Meena has often spoken about the challenges faced by Indian pole vaulters, including lack of infrastructure, limited exposure, and logistical hurdles. The Panvel train incident has now brought those struggles into sharp public focus.

Globally, men’s pole vault remains an event where Indian athletes are still trying to bridge a significant gap. The Asian record stands at 6 metres, while the world record of 6.27 metres is held by Swedish star Armand Duplantis. Against this backdrop, experts argue that institutional support — not obstacles — is critical for India’s emerging talent.

As the video continues to circulate, calls are growing for Indian Railways to issue clear guidelines on athletes travelling with sporting equipment and to sensitise staff to prevent similar incidents in the future. For now, the episode has reignited a broader debate on how India treats its athletes off the field, even as it expects excellence on it.