Who Is Baranica Elangovan? TN Pole Vaulter Breaks New Ground With Historic Asian Games 2026 Medal

Baranica Elangovan, a pole vaulter from Tamil Nadu, recently made history by winning the bronze medal at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games on September 25, 2026. She became the first Indian to achieve this feat in the pole vault event. Elangovan's journey began at Ethiraj College for Women in Chennai, where she initially hesitated to take up the discipline due to concerns about handling the pole.

However, her training under coach Milber Bertrand Russell provided her with the necessary confidence and skills to excel in the sport.

Elangovan's breakthrough came in June 2022 when she cleared a personal best of 4.05 meters in the National Inter-State Athletics Championships in June 2022. This performance set a new meet record. Her determination continued to pay off as she participated in national competitions and consistently improved her performances. In 2026, Elangovan achieved significant milestones, clearing 4.22 meters at the National Indoor Athletics Championships in Bhubaneswar in March and further improving her mark to 4.23 meters in May.

In Nagoya, Elangovan showcased her growth by clearing 4.15 meters, matching the height of Kazakhstan’s Polina Ivanova. Due to the countback rule, both athletes shared the bronze medal. This achievement marks a historic milestone for India, as Elangovan becomes the first Indian to win an Asian Games medal in pole vault. Her journey from uncertainty in college to a national record and a historic podium finish epitomizes the steady progress of an Indian athlete on the global stage.