Ancy Sojan Makes History in Long Jump

Twenty-five-year-old Ancy Sojan is emerging as a prominent name in Indian long jump, following in the footsteps of Anju George. Hailing from Nattika in Kerala, Ancy initially began her career as a sprinter before joining the Indian Navy through the sports quota and later switching to long jump. Her childhood practice of running and jumping on the sand near the beach, where her father often took her, helped shape her athletic journey. After winning silver at the 2022 Asian Games, she added silver medals at the Asian Championships last year and the Asian Indoor Championships this season. At the Inter-State Athletics Championships in Bhubaneswar, she leapt 6.88 metres to surpass Anju George’s 6.83-metre national record, which had stood for 22 years. She later secured another silver at the Asian Games in Japan.

Injuries Trouble Indian Athletes at Asian Games.. Three Forced to Withdraw

Indian athletics has also been hit by a series of injuries at the Asian Games. After star hurdler Jyothi Yarraji and triple jumper Praveen Chithravel, 400m hurdler Yashas Palaksha became the latest athlete to withdraw after suffering a thigh muscle injury before his heats. Jyothi was unable to compete in the 100m hurdles, while Chithravel missed the triple jump because of injuries. The athletics federation had declared the contingent fit before the Games, making the subsequent withdrawals a concern. Jyothi said she had worked hard and made sacrifices with the dream of winning gold, but had to pull out because of the injury. Questions over athlete fitness and selection have also surfaced among fans online, though such criticism represents public opinion rather than an established finding.