India’s Ancy Sojan Edappilly clinched a stunning silver medal in the women’s long jump at the 2026 Asian Games on Sunday, September 27.
Battling challenging windy and rainy conditions, the 25-year-old athlete from Thrissur put up a masterclass in consistency. Having thrown down a marker of 6.49 metres in the very first round, Ancy maintained her grip on the top spot for almost the entirety of the contest. She further extended her advantage with a stellar jump of 6.53 metres in her fifth attempt, looking poised to claim the top step of the podium.
However, the competition flipped dramatically in a heart-stopping sixth and final round. China’s Yingying Huang produced her best effort of the evening—a 6.55-metre leap—to snatch the gold medal away in the dying moments of the event. Despite leading through nearly all six rounds, Ancy had to settle for a hard-fought and well-deserved silver, marking her second consecutive Asian Games podium finish in the event.
Meanwhile, fellow Indian contender Shaili Singh experienced a bittersweet outing. Singh held the third position for the majority of the competition, recording a best attempt of 6.42 metres. Struggling slightly with wind conditions and fouling several jumps by taking off before the board, Singh was ultimately edged out of the bronze position when China’s Tan Mengyi leaped 6.46 metres in the final round, dropping the young Indian to fourth place.
While the dramatic last-round turnaround means India’s quest for an individual gold at the 2026 Games continues, Ancy Sojan’s resilience, poise, and silver-winning performance remain one of the standout highlights for the Indian contingent.
