Ancy Sojan calls Asian Games 2026 long jump silver a reward for hard work
(Courtesy : SAI Media)
Ancy has been a Target Olympics Podium Scheme athlete since December 2021
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Ancy Sojan said ‘tiredness’ and ‘fate’ conspired to deny her a maiden Asian Games gold medal by just two centimeters.
Having led the field with consummate ease, India’s top high jumper was relegated to second position by China’s Yingying Huang, who jumped to 6.55 metres at the Nagoya City Mizuho Park Athletic Stadium on a rainy evening on Sunday. Mengyi Tan of China took the bronze with a leap of 6.46m.
Ancy battled fatigue and a slippery track in her last three jumps that would finally prove decisive. In an exclusive interaction with SAI Media, Ancy said, “I was leading and was praying to God not to let me down. I thought 6:55 was nothing, and I was trying for 6:60-plus, but that didn’t happen. Unfortunately, it was not my day, and I had no choice but to accept my fate.”
“The Asian Games silver is a reward for the hard work I put in this season. It was a very long season, and I have learnt a lot. I fought hard and gave my 100% at Aichi-Nagoya, but it was not my day,” said Ancy.
For Ancy, 2026 has been a fabulous year. Starting with a bronze at the Asian indoor championships, the 25-year-old from Thrissur, Kerala, ended with her second Asian Games silver. A major milestone came when Ancy produced a remarkable 6.88m at the National Inter-State Athletics Championships in Bhubaneswar, breaking Anju Bobby George’s 22-year-old Indian national record of 6.83m.
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World championship medallist Anju was trackside when Ancy and Shaili Singh competed at Aichi Nagoya. “She came and gave me tips on how to extend my landing. She encouraged me a lot, and I really enjoyed that,” said Ancy.
Ancy has been a Target Olympics Podium Scheme athlete since December 2021. She made the headlines with a long jump silver medal at the 2023 Hangzhou Asian Games. Given her current form, Ancy was tipped to change the colour of her medal this time in Japan.
“Mentally, I was prepared that the Chinese will give me tough competition. Then when I came here, it was raining. I had to find a solution under the circumstances. Being an Indian Navy person, it’s not in me to give up. I told myself that I will fight till the end. I was completely pressure-free, but probably my body was not supporting me in the last three jumps,” said Ancy.
Who won the women’s long jump gold at the Asian Games 2026?
China’s Yingying Huang won gold with a jump of 6.55m. Ancy Sojan took silver, two centimetres short, and China’s Mengyi Tan won bronze with 6.46m.
What is Ancy Sojan’s national record in long jump?
Ancy jumped 6.88m at the National Inter-State Athletics Championships in Bhubaneswar. This broke Anju Bobby George’s 22-year-old national record of 6.83m.
Why did Ancy Sojan miss out on Asian Games gold?
Ancy said tiredness and a slippery track in the rain affected her last three jumps. She had led the field before that.
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