Ancy Sojan Wants History and Gold at Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games

Indian long jumper Ancy Sojan Edappilly has set herself an ambitious double target ahead of the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya: becoming the first Indian woman to cross the seven-metre mark and winning the Asian Games gold medal.

The 25-year-old athlete has already moved closer to that historic milestone. Earlier this year, Ancy produced a national-record jump of 6.88 metres, surpassing Anju Bobby George’s long-standing mark of 6.83m. George’s record had remained untouched for 22 years.

But for Ancy, breaking the national record was never the ultimate goal.

“I never targeted the record. I always targeted seven metres,” she told Olympics.com.

Now just 12 centimetres short of the landmark distance, Ancy believes the barrier is within her reach, although she knows achieving it will require further improvement in her technique and consistency.

“It is achievable, but not easily. I need to push harder again and again,” she said, adding that she has identified the kind of runway conditions that could help her produce a bigger jump.

For Ancy, seven metres represents more than a number. She wants to create a breakthrough that could encourage a new generation of Indian long jumpers to aim higher.

“I want to do something extraordinary or something different,” she said. “Nobody has reached the seven-metre mark. I am aiming to be the first woman to cross the seven-metre mark in India.”

A strong domestic field pushing Ancy higher

Competition within Indian women’s long jump has also played an important role in Ancy’s progress.

When she entered the senior circuit, Nayana James was among the established names in the event. More recently, Shaili Singh has emerged as one of the country's prominent young long jumpers.

Shaili's 6.76m jump in 2023, achieved at the age of 18, particularly motivated Ancy to raise her own performance.

“When she performed, I started pushing and I got my personal best the same year,” Ancy recalled.

Rather than viewing the domestic competition as a source of pressure, Ancy sees it as something that can benefit the entire event. She believes that strong competition forces athletes to keep improving instead of becoming comfortable with their existing performances.

“If she is there, I feel better. If I am there, she feels better,” she said, arguing that the rivalry could help Indian long jumpers eventually reach world-class levels.

The emergence of Mubassina Mohammed, who has also crossed the 6.50m mark, has added further depth to the event and gives India another athlete capable of challenging the leading performers.

Asian Games silver medallist now wants gold

The 2026 Asian Games will provide Ancy with another opportunity to take a major step forward.

She returns to the continental competition after winning silver at the Hangzhou Asian Games. This time, however, she is aiming for the top of the podium.

“This time I really want to win a gold medal,” Ancy said.

For the athlete, an Asian Games title would carry an emotional significance beyond the medal itself. She dreams of standing on the top step of the podium, hearing India's national anthem and watching the tricolour rise.

“I want to get some tears from my eyes after hearing that,” she said.

Ancy's two goals are closely connected. A seven-metre jump would make her the first Indian woman to achieve the feat and establish another landmark in the country's athletics history. An Asian Games gold, meanwhile, would complete her progression from the silver she won in Hangzhou.

With 6.88m already behind her, the gap is only 12 centimetres. The challenge now is to turn that ambition into a historic jump — and, perhaps, a gold medal.