Ancy Sojan, having eclipsed Anju Bobby George\u2019s 22-year-old National mark of 6.83m set at the 2004 Athens Olympics, has a clear target: the Asian Games gold in Aichi-Nagoya in September this year.<\/p>\n
\u201cI want to bring the gold medal with a high class jump. I am aiming for the Asian Games record also so that I can directly qualify for the World championship next year. 6.86m is the qualification mark (for the Worlds) and the qualifying period will start from August 23,\u201d said Ancy, who clinched a silver medal at the last Asian Games in 2023 with a jump of 6.63m. She is now the Asian season leader, thanks to her effort of 6.88m at the National inter-State athletics meet in Bhubaneswar recently<\/p>\n
On her exceptional performance in hot and humid conditions, Ancy \u2014 who had recorded her personal best of 6.75m at the Federation meet in Ranchi in May \u2014 said, \u201cI came here to do my personal best and be a good world class performer. I didn\u2019t aim for the National Record.\u201d<\/p>\n
She was relieved with the breakthrough. \u201cFinally it happened, I felt like I was getting tired but I remembered \u2018What if I go to represent our country and if I feel tired?\u2019 Suddenly, I remembered my last Asian Games and I got a boost. With all the belief, I took a good breath and jumped, it happened.\u201d<\/p>\n
She\u2019s happy with the progress but wants more. \u201cI am so happy that I am improving. I think, let\u2019s aim higher than this.<\/p>\n
An experiment<\/h4>\n
\u201cMentally and physically it\u2019s like an experiment. You get tired but still you have to jump because you train for that. I want the energy, after 10 jumps I want to stay the same. Each and every training session I am thinking about the target I want to achieve, so that it helps me push more. Today I thought I was competing in the Asian Games and I felt that someone could beat me, so I needed to grab the medal for our nation. Suddenly it encouraged me, it\u2019s fun.\u201d<\/p>\n
For Ancy, the record-breaking jump, which pushed her to seventh place among world leaders this season, sent a message. \u201cThis is a statement that India also has good jumpers, if someone works hard she can achieve it. Just believe in yourself, be patient and be dedicated to our work. People will say things but never mind, be true to yourself. I do the same.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n
Ancy\u2019s ultimate goal is to become a world-class jumper.
\n | Photo Credit:
\n Biswaranjan Rout\n <\/p>\n
<\/div>\n The build-up to her remarkable performance in Bhubaneswar started after the Ranchi meet. \u201cAfter that (Ranchi), I trained hard the same way. Every training I just aimed at what I wanted to be… focusing on technique, run-up and fitness. Each session I pushed hard, I just stuck to my plan.<\/p>\n \u201cLots of people asked me why you didn\u2019t push for the Commonwealth Games qualification. I knew this jump was not easy, so I needed more time for training. I just focused on training only, so I could get there. This was the only (qualifying) competition for the Asian Games. I worked hard and finally got a good result. We had a good plan, God helped us.\u201d<\/p>\n The record wasn\u2019t Ancy\u2019s target. \u201cI was not chasing the record actually. I didn\u2019t have any records in my name at the National level. I wanted to do my personal best and a world class jump. Because I am aiming to compete at the international level. I see their enthusiasm. I had competed before in my first Commonwealth (in 2022 and did 6.25m). I was a beginner and I saw people jumping. It was like literally enraged me, their speed and ability. So I felt like I could also do the same. If I want to be like them, I need to jump like them. I aim to become a world-class jumper. I want to keep improving. I want to be consistent with that.\u201d<\/p>\n The competition had tense moments. \u201cBefore my first jump, I was under a little bit of pressure, I wanted to be safe. But the first jump I did in my lifetime, 7m-plus jump. I was so happy and tension-free. In between, there were some fouls and minor issues. Then I was a little tired, so I went to my coach (Anoop Joseph), because I felt some stomach issues. He said, \u2018Nothing, you are okay.\u2019 It charged me up, suddenly I got goosebumps and my eyes got wet.<\/p>\n \u201cI then remembered a scene… I was watching a reel of the film on Milkha Singh. He is wearing the India blazer and is asked \u2018Who told you to wear this?\u2019 And he says, \u2018I am just trying this.\u2019 Suddenly the coach comes and hits him and says, \u2018If you want to wear the Indian jersey, you have to beat him (your opponent). His coach insisted, \u2018Tell him you have to beat him.\u2019 Finally Milkha says, \u2018Yes.\u2019 It really inspired me. The same thing I tell myself, you have to beat that. And finally the moment happened.\u201d<\/p>\n For Ancy, her senior Kerala Statemate Anju remains an inspiration. \u201cI knew Anju ma\u2019am had a huge jump, 6.83m. She struggled a lot (to reach there). She is a legend. I am aiming to be like her, I want to become a world class jumper.<\/p>\n \u201cI want to say that ma\u2019am is truly an inspiration. I recently read that she has one kidney and her story inspired me a lot. I saw her jump several times and I knew how hard she trained for that also. I hope ma\u2019am is happy about this and would support me.\u201d<\/p>\n \n Ancy with Anju at the presentation ceremony. <\/div>\n Ancy looked back at the hormonal issues that had held her back last year. \u201cI had some hormonal issues, I was not able to get fit like this. This year I sacrificed a lot of food and decided that I wanted to become a world class jumper. Even my coach reminded me, \u2018If you sacrifice and be dedicated, you will get the result. If you want to jump like a top performer, you will have to train like that.\u2019 So if I feel tired during training, I say, \u2018You have to do it.\u2019 It helps me to push harder and train.<\/p>\n \u201cI am mentally more stable than before. The experience, the difficulties and the obstacles have made me stronger. And God is helping me. I never thought it would happen. I was missing the mark narrowly because of some mistakes. But finally it happened.\u201d<\/p>\n Ancy doesn\u2019t regret maintaining a disciplined lifestyle. \u201cI love to eat a lot of food. But I remember why I am here. I tell myself, \u2018First you achieve your goal, then eat.\u2019 All the sacrifices including social media, food, whatever, will get you the result.<\/p>\n \u201cI reduced my food quantity because of the hormonal issues as I used to put on weight. It is very hard to jump with a lot of weight. Last year I struggled with that. This year my diet is good. I started early, took time and prepared very well. I followed my coach\u2019s advice. I got the result. Now I am 55kg. Before this, it was 63kg. Now my body fat is 13% after coming down from 26%.\u201d<\/p>\n Ancy rides on her renewed confidence as she approaches the Asian Games. \u201cThis year I want to bring gold and hear the National anthem of India. I love biryani and rice. Now I completely avoid that. Maybe, I will have that after the Asian Games,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n<\/div>\nA legend<\/h4>\n
![\"Ancy](\"https:\/\/th-i.thgim.com\/public\/incoming\/pfx5f7\/article71186847.ece\/alternates\/FREE_1200\/20260629283L.jpg\" "\\"Ancy")
<\/div>\n
\n | Photo Credit:
\n ANI\n <\/p>\nDisciplined lifestyle<\/h4>\n