Archive · 25 Sep 2026
Baranica Elangovan Overcomes Pole Trouble for Historic Asian Games Bronze
Baranica Elangovan is an athlete who competes in pole vaulting.
In this event, athletes use a long pole to jump over a high bar.
Before she traveled to Japan, there was a problem getting her pole onto an airplane.
Her pole was 4.30 metres long.
The airlines contacted said they usually allowed equipment only up to 3.40 metres.
Her coach said the team contacted more than six or seven airlines and sent emails.
Despite the transportation problem, Baranica cleared 4.15 metres in the competition.
She won a bronze medal and became the first Indian to win an Asian Games pole-vault medal.
Baranica Elangovan won bronze in the women’s pole vault after clearing 4.15 metres.
The 29-year-old became the first Indian to win an Asian Games medal in pole vault.
Her 4.30-metre pole was difficult to transport to Nagoya, Japan.
More than six or seven airlines were contacted about carrying the equipment.
Airline regulations reportedly allowed equipment up to 3.40 metres, 90 centimetres shorter than her pole.
- Who
- Baranica Elangovan, coached by Milber Bertrand Russell.
- What
- Elangovan won bronze in the women’s pole vault and became the first Indian to win an Asian Games medal in the event.
- When
- On Friday; the equipment problem arose a few days before she was due to leave for Japan.
- Where
- At the Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan.
- Why
- Her campaign faced a transportation problem because her 4.30-metre pole exceeded the equipment-length limits cited by the airlines contacted.
- Athlete
- Baranica Elangovan
- Age
- 29
- Result
- Bronze medal
- Clearance
- 4.15 metres
- Pole length
- 4.30 metres
- Airline limit cited
- 3.40 metres
- Historical significance
- First Indian Asian Games medal in women’s pole vault