Sports
oi-Swastika Sruti
Kerala’s rising athletics star Ancy Sojan created history on Saturday by breaking the long-standing women’s national long jump record during the National Inter-State Athletics Championships in Bhubaneswar.
Ancy Sojan set a new women’s national long jump record of 6.88 metres at the National Inter-State Championships in Bhubaneswar, surpassing Anju Bobby George’s 22-year-old record and securing qualification for the Asian Games.
The 25-year-old registered a brilliant jump of 6.88 metres, surpassing the previous national record of 6.83 metres held by legendary Indian athlete Anju Bobby George for more than two decades.
The achievement marks one of the biggest milestones in Indian athletics this year and confirms Ancy’s status as one of the country’s brightest field event athletes.
Ancy Sojan leaps 6.88 for a new NR. pic.twitter.com/bdtiryKiGY
— Anand Datla 🇮🇳 (@SportASmile) June 27, 2026
Record Broken After 22 Years
Anju Bobby George had set the previous national record of 6.83 metres during the 2004 season, a mark that remained unbeaten for 22 years.
Competing on Day 4 of the National Inter-State Championships, Ancy delivered the record-breaking leap in her fifth attempt.
She began the competition strongly with an opening jump of 6.73 metres, immediately putting herself among the medal favourites.
After improving steadily through the event, she produced the historic 6.88-metre jump before finishing with 6.69 metres in her final attempt.
The performance not only earned her the national record but also highlighted her remarkable consistency throughout the competition.
Asian Games Qualification Secured
Along with setting a new national record, Ancy also achieved the qualification standard for the upcoming Asian Games set by the Athletics Federation of India (AFI).
Crossing the qualifying mark means she is now well placed to represent India at one of Asia’s biggest sporting events, subject to the federation’s selection process.
The performance has significantly boosted her confidence ahead of future international competitions.
A Rapid Rise in Indian Athletics
Ancy Sojan has emerged as one of India’s leading long jump athletes over the past few years.
Born on March 1, 2001, in Thrissur, Kerala, she has steadily climbed the national rankings with consistent performances.
Apart from representing Kerala in domestic competitions, she also competes for the Services and serves as a Chief Petty Officer in the Indian Navy.
Her disciplined training and steady improvement have made her one of India’s strongest medal hopes in women’s long jump.
Impressive International Achievements
Ancy first attracted national attention at the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou, where she won the silver medal with a jump of 6.63 metres.
She continued her impressive run by securing another silver medal at the 2025 Asian Athletics Championships.
Earlier this year, she added a bronze medal at the 2026 Asian Indoor Athletics Championships, further strengthening her reputation on the continental stage.
Before the National Inter-State Championships, she had already improved her personal best during the Federation Cup, indicating she was in excellent form.
Her latest national record now represents the biggest achievement of her career so far.
