Abhinav’s Golden Leap Now with His Own Pole Vault; Minister Keeps Promise

Wayanad: In a heartwarming display of grit and ingenuity, 10th-grade student A M Abhinav stole the spotlight at the Wayanad District Sports Meet by crafting a bamboo pole and clinching first place in pole vault. Recognising his extraordinary achievement, Minister for Welfare of Scheduled Castes O R Kelu presented Abhinav with his very own modern pole.

Abhinav’s fascination with pole vaulting began in childhood, inspired by online videos. Drawn to the elegant arc of the vault, he fashioned sturdy bamboo poles and practised relentlessly, refining his jumps with meticulous care. Though he explored various athletic disciplines, it was pole vault that truly captured his spirit.

His coach, Saji, played a pivotal role in shaping Abhinav’s journey, devising specialised training programmes tailored to the young athlete’s physical and mental needs. When Abhinav arrived at the district-level competition without a proper pole, he and Coach Saji collected bamboo poles from the school grounds to improvise a makeshift vault, a bold move that propelled him to the winner’s podium.

Abhinav credits his success to Saji’s guidance. “Coach Saji was the one who first encouraged me to compete and taught me the techniques that led to this victory,” he said. The young athlete’s triumph also earned him a spot in the state selection, a step forward from his fourth-place finish at the previous state sports festival, where he had borrowed a pole from another school.

Looking ahead, Abhinav dreams of reaching the national stage and becoming a champion in pole vault, carrying with him not just the lessons of training, but the spirit of innovation and determination that turned humble bamboo poles into instruments of triumph.