Ancy Sojan Equals Anju Bobby George’s Mark With Stunning 6.75m Leap At Federation Cup 2026

Indian long jump may have found its next global contender. At the Federation Cup 2026 in Ranchi, Ancy Sojan delivered one of the finest performances ever seen in Indian women’s long jump, registering a sensational lifetime best jump of 6.75m and rewriting the meet record once again during a breathtaking final at the Birsa Munda Stadium.

The Kerala athlete not only secured gold in dominant fashion but also equalled the mark once achieved by Indian athletics legend Anju Bobby George, moving joint-third on India’s all-time list.

In a competition filled with quality, pressure and high expectations, Ancy produced a series of outstanding jumps before exploding to 6.75m in her fourth attempt — a distance that firmly established her among the elite names in Indian long jump history.

And perhaps even more importantly, she still looked capable of going farther. The women’s long jump final had already been building towards something special from the opening rounds.

Ancy immediately signalled her intent with an opening jump of 6.47m, comfortably moving into the lead ahead of fellow contender Shaili Singh, who began with 6.38m. The early exchanges between India’s two leading long jumpers immediately created excitement inside the stadium.

In her second attempt, Ancy improved further to 6.56m, already producing a season-best effort and strengthening her grip on the competition. Shaili continued to remain close behind with a best effort of 6.46m, ensuring the contest remained competitive. Then came the third attempt.

Ancy soared to 6.69m, breaking the Federation Cup meet record and producing the second-best jump of her career at that point. The jump immediately elevated the atmosphere around the event, with spectators realising that something historic could be unfolding.

But the best was still to come. In her fourth attempt, Ancy attacked the runway with complete confidence and landed at a remarkable 6.75m. The stadium erupted as the measurement appeared on the board. The jump not only shattered the meet record again but also equalled the distance previously achieved by Anju Bobby George, one of the greatest athletes in Indian sporting history.

Only two Indian women have now jumped farther. For Indian athletics, the significance of the mark goes well beyond medals or records.

Women’s long jump has always carried emotional importance in India because of Anju Bobby George’s achievements on the global stage. Her bronze medal at the 2003 World Championships remains one of the most iconic moments in Indian athletics history, and for years her performances stood untouched.

Now, Ancy Sojan is steadily moving into that conversation.

The timing of her rise is particularly important. Indian athletics is currently witnessing a strong generation of women jumpers led by athletes like Ancy and Shaili Singh. Both continue to push each other consistently at national competitions, creating exactly the type of rivalry needed for long-term growth.

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And in Ranchi, Ancy clearly emerged ahead. What stood out throughout the final was not just the distance she achieved but the consistency and technical control she displayed across attempts. Every jump looked balanced, powerful and composed signs of an athlete beginning to fully understand her own capabilities.

The only target that remained just out of reach was the Commonwealth Games qualification mark of 6.84m.

That standard itself highlights how demanding the global level has become because clearing 6.84m would also require breaking India’s long-standing national record of 6.83m set by Anju Bobby George. After Thursday’s performance, however, the possibility no longer feels distant.

Ancy finished just nine centimetres short of the qualification mark and still had one final attempt remaining in the competition. Considering the progression she showed across the evening, there is every reason to believe the national record could come under serious threat later this season. The performance also continues Ancy’s impressive start to 2026.

Earlier this year, she secured a bronze medal at the Asian Indoor Championships and entered the Federation Cup already holding India’s best jump of the season. Her consistency across competitions now suggests she is evolving from a promising talent into a genuine elite-level performer. For Indian athletics, that development is extremely encouraging ahead of major international competitions over the next two years.

The Commonwealth Games, Asian Games and eventually the Los Angeles Olympics all remain important long-term targets, and India’s women’s long jump suddenly appears stronger than it has in years. Shaili Singh too deserves recognition for another strong performance, but on this occasion the evening belonged entirely to Ancy Sojan.

In Ranchi, she did more than just win gold. She matched one of Indian athletics’ most iconic marks, shattered the meet record repeatedly and announced herself as a serious contender capable of chasing history in the months ahead.

And if Thursday night was any indication, Indian women’s long jump is entering a very exciting era indeed.