Ancy produced a jump of 6.88m in her fifth attempt.
| Photo Credit: BISWARANJAN ROUT
Ancy Sojan spectacularly erased Anju Bobby George’s 22-year-old National record — achieved at the Athens Olympics — by registering 6.88m while high jumper Sarvesh Kushare improved upon Tejaswin Shankar’s eight-year-old National mark by logging 2.31m at the National inter-State athletics meet here on Saturday.
A persistent Ancy, who began with the biggest first jump of her career by recording 6.73m and qualifying for the Asian Games, showed commendable consistency before bringing out her best in her fifth attempt at the Kalinga Stadium and going past Anju’s 6.83m.
Following some anxious moments, she erupted in joy when the new record was announced.
“I hope Anju ma’am will be proud of me. I want to repeat my performance to win the Asian Games gold and qualify for the World championships,” said Asian Games silver medallist Ancy, who had achieved 6.75m at the Federation meet in Ranchi last month.
Sarvesh’s doggedness also paid dividends as he surpassed Tejaswin’s record of 2.29m. First, he achieved the Asian Games qualification mark before going for the big one. He failed in his first two attempts, but succeeded in his third to become the first Indian to go past 2.30m. His two efforts to clear 2.35m went in vain.
“Today, my body moved well and everything was in sync. Since I could not reach 2.30 in Ranchi, I tried 2.31 this time,” said Sarvesh.
Yoonus Shah clocked 3:37.55 to break Bahadur Prasad’s 31-year-old record in men’s 1500m.
In men’s 400m hurdles, Yashas (49.14) pipped Santhosh Kumar in a photo-finish.
The results (finals): Men: 100m (Asiad Q mark 10.16s): 1. Animesh Kujur (Odi) 10.28, 2. Pranav Gurav (Mah) 10.39, 3. Laukik Melge (Mah) 10.43; 1500m (Asiad Q mark 3:42.00): 1. Yoonus Shah (UP) 3:37.55 (NMR, Old 3:40.10, Bahadur Prasad, 1995), 2. Gulveer Singh (UP) 3:38.31, 3. Rahul Baloda (Raj) 3:40.07; 400m hurdles (Asiad Q mark 49.41s): 1. Yashas P. (Kar) 49.14 (49.131) (NMR, Old 49.37, Yashas, 2023), 2. Santhosh Kumar T. (TN) 49.14 (49.138), 3. Aryan Prajwal Kashyap (Kar) 50.95; High jump (Asiad Q mark 2.19m): 1. Sarvesh Kushare (Mah) 2.31 (NR, Old 2.29, Tejaswin Shankar, 2018), 2. Aadarsh Ram (TN) 2.25m, 3. Jesse Sandesh (Kar) 2.19m; Shot put (Asiad Q mark 19.41m): 1. Karanveer Singh (Pun) 20.49, 2. Samardeep Gill (MP) 20.40, 3. Tajinderpal Toor (Pun) 20.27.
Women: 100m (Asiad Q mark 11.54s): 1. Sudeshna Shivankar (Mah) 11.54, 2. Sneha S.S. (Kar) 11.65, 3. Amasha De Silva (SL) 11.70; 1500m (Asiad Q 4: 19.45): 1. Parul Chaudhary (UP) 4:20.45, 2. Ankita Dhyani (Utk) 4:20.78, 3. Pooja Ola (Har) 4:21.48; 400m hurdles (Asiad Q mark 57.21s): 1. R. Vithya Ramraj (TN) 56.07, 2. Anu R. (Ker) 56.54, 3. Sinchal (Kar) 58.90; Long jump (Asiad Q mark 6.48m): 1. Ancy Sojan (Ker) 6.88 (NR, Old 6.83, Anju Bobby George, 2004), 2. Shaili Singh (UP) 6.67m, 3. Mubassina Mohammed (Lak) 6.53; Javelin (Asiad Q mark 57.62m): 1. Annu Rani (UP) 56.74, 2. Karishma Sanil (Kar) 53.06, 3. Uma Choudhary (Raj) 53.06; Heptathlon (Asiad Q mark 5605 points): 1. Anamika K.A. (Ker) 3273, 2. Khushi (Har) 3248, 3. Purnima Hembram (Odi) 3238.
Published – June 27, 2026 10:11 pm IST
