Indian long jumper Ancy Sojan has set her sights on Asian Games gold after a breakthrough 2026 season that saw her rewrite the national record. The 25-year-old Kerala athlete is using visualisation to build confidence as she prepares for one of the biggest competitions of her career.
Ancy recently won the World Athletics Continental Tour Silver-level meet in Bhubaneswar with a jump of 6.71 metres. However, she revealed that a knee issue had affected her ability to perform at her best. She now plans to rest and recover before arriving fresh for the Asian Games.
Earlier this year, Ancy broke Anju Bobby George’s long-standing Indian women’s long jump record with a 6.88m effort. The mark is currently the best in Asia this season, while she has also crossed 6.70m on three occasions.
Despite her strong numbers, Ancy says mental preparation has become equally important. She has incorporated visualisation into her training and repeatedly imagines herself standing on the Asian Games podium while India’s national anthem plays.
The athlete believes the practice has helped her overcome self-doubt. She often visualises jumping beyond seven metres, a barrier no Indian woman has crossed. Her previous visualisation of a 6.88m jump, she said, eventually became reality.
With her national record and growing confidence, Ancy heads into the Asian Games as a strong medal contender. Her ultimate goal remains clear: win gold, break the seven-metre barrier and hear the Indian national anthem from the podium.
Leave a Reply