6.88 meters! Ancy Sojan breaks Anju Bobby George's 22-year-old long jump national record

BHUBANESWAR: The national record in long jump, held by veteran Anju Bobby George for more than two decades, was shattered on Saturday by Ancy Sojan’s big leap. Ancy, who had been performing brilliantly since school level, flew to an amazing distance of 6.88 meters in her fifth jump at the Inter-State Athletics in Bhubaneswar on Saturday.

Ancy’s first jump was 6.73 meters. The second jump was a foul. In the third attempt, she jumped 6.67 meters and in the fourth attempt, 6.72 meters. In the fifth jump, Ancy flew to a record with a perfect takeoff. The distance in the last attempt was 6.69 meters.

Ancy had been training in the past few years with the sole aim of breaking Anju's record. Shaila Singh (6.67m), who trains under Anju's coach and husband Robert Bobby George at Anju Bobby George's Foundation, and Mubasina from Lakshadweep (6.53m) took silver and bronze medals. Ancy is a silver medalist at the last Hangzhou Asian Games. After the competition, Ancy said that her goal is to win gold at the Asian Games this time. Shaila has also qualified for the Asian Games.

Ancy,25, is the daughter of Sojan, an auto driver from Thrissur. After life circumstances stymied Ancy’s dream to become a sportsperson, Sojan, an auto driver, decided to devote his life to making his daughter’s dream come true. Sojan himself was Ancy’s coach at the school level. Ancy, who has won several gold medals in state and national school sports events, is now a Chief Petty Officer in the Indian Navy.