Bhubaneswar (Odisha) [India], August 23 (ANI): National record holder Ancy Sojan Edappilly, who led an Indian sweep in the women's long jump with a winning effort of 6.71m at the World Athletics Silver Level Continental Tour 2026 in Bhubaneswar on Saturday, described her performance as average, saying the event was mainly preparation for the Asian Games, where she is aiming for gold and hopes to achieve her "magical number" of seven metres.
Ancy Sojan spearheaded an Indian clean sweep in the women's long jump with a winning effort of 6.71m. Shaili Singh claimed second place with 6.56m, while Mubassina Mohammed finished third with 6.31m. Ancy, an Asian Games silver medallist, had earlier set the Indian women's long jump national record with a 6.88m leap at the same venue in June.
Speaking to ANI after her performance, Sojan said, "It was an average performance. This is just preparation before the Asian Games. I'm aiming for the gold medal this year. I'm targeting my magical number of seven meters."
Meanwhile, Rohit Yadav emerged victorious in the javelin throw at the World Athletics Silver Level Continental Tour 2026. Rohit produced a personal best effort of 87.68m with his sixth and final attempt to claim the javelin throw title. The 25-year-old improved his previous personal best of 87.05m, which he had recorded at the National Inter-State Senior Athletics Championships at the same venue in June.
Rohit's 87.68m throw is the fourth-best mark by an athlete in the world this season, behind Sri Lanka's Rumesh Pathirage (92.62m), Germany's Julian Weber (90.40m) and India's Neeraj Chopra (88.05m).
Rohit Yadav said his Commonwealth Games setback motivated him to perform better. Despite feeling nervous after a foul on his second attempt, he said he regained his rhythm to secure victory and said he is aiming for a personal best at the Asian Games.
"I wasn't able to perform well at the Commonwealth Games. I still feel bad about it. That drive to really deliver was still pent up inside me. Sometimes, the throw doesn't come off right because the rhythm is off, but when you know deep down that you can do it, you manage to pull it off. I was actually a bit scared. After the second throw was ruled a foul, I felt some fear, but then I managed to pull off a really good throw. I'll be competing in the Asian Games, and I'll try to achieve a personal best there," he said. (ANI)
Ancy Sojan calls 6.71m effort at World Athletics Continental Tour "average", targets 7m and Asian Games gold
