For nearly a quarter of a century, Joshna Chinappa has stood like a colossus on the squash court. At 40, Joshna doesn’t seem to have lost her fighting spirit and tenacity.

She knows she is ageing, has tweaked her training module accordingly and has remained one of the finest players in the country a good 24 years after she made her Asian Games debut in Busan in 2002.

Taking part only in the women’s team and mixed doubles (with Velavan Senthilkumar) events at the ongoing Aichi-Nagoya Games, the veteran from Chennai is more than eager to bag another medal.

Seeded third in mixed doubles, the Velavan-Joshna duo will take on the fellow Indian pair of Suraj Chand and Shameena Riaz in the round of 16 after having received a bye in the first. In the women’s team event (Anahat Singh, Tanvi Khanna and Shameena are her teammates), the No. 3-seeded India has been drawn in Pool C alongside Japan, China and Iran.

On the PSA World Tour, Joshna’s career has overlapped with three generations of elite squash players. Most of her contemporaries — Nicol David (43), Laura Massaro (42), Jenny Duncalf (43), Alison Waters (42) and Annie Au (37) — have long retired, underlining her remarkable longevity.

Placed 73rd in the chart, Joshna is India’s third-highest ranked woman behind the 18-year-old Anahat Singh (World No. 17) and Tanvi Khanna (World No. 71). A winner of 11 PSA titles, she continues to perform at a high level and is determined to make another significant contribution at the Asian Games. Everyone who has followed Joshna’s career knows how meticulous and disciplined she is in her preparation.

Saurav Ghosal, a former men’s top-10 player, perhaps perfectly summed up her longevity. “First and foremost, she really, really loves the game. She’s immensely talented, but she has also worked tirelessly on every aspect of her game to remain at the top for as long as she has. I hope that she comes back from the Asian Games with quite a few gold medals.”

In this interview with The Hindu, the five-time Asian Games medallist reflects on her longevity, debut at the 2002 Asiad, most cherished memories from the continental showpiece, and the motivation that continues to drive her at the highest level. Excerpts:

You are competing at the Asian Games for the seventh time, becoming the first Indian sportsperson to achieve the feat…

I honestly didn’t think I would make a seventh Asian Games appearance. I just focused on my training and tournaments. It definitely feels great to be a part of the Indian team again.

You have won five medals at the Asiad, but a gold remains elusive. What are the chances of clinching the yellow metal?

We have a strong team and yes, it would be great to win another medal. I have always taken my matches one at a time, so I am as prepared as I can be.

Looking back, which was your best Asian Games?

Performance-wise, 2018 would probably be the best I played (singles bronze and silver in women’s team).

How special was it to be on the Asiad stage as a teenager?

As a 15-year-old, it was amazing to see so many superstars of Indian sport in one Village. There is one memory that stands out from my first Games in Busan in 2002. We are usually given our official India clothing and I would obviously wear that to play and train. But in my down time at the Village, I wore a personal T-shirt at the food hall a couple of times, and legendary hockey player Dhanraj Pillay told me that I had to be in my India clothing. It’s something we should always be proud of. It was inspiring for me because it made me aware that I am always representing my country at the Games on and off court… that has stayed with me till now.

You were part of the top 10 in the PSA rankings thrice. When you got there for the first time as a 29-year-old in July 2016, how did you feel?

The top 10 is a special place. It took a lot of effort, especially coming back from my ACL surgery, and years of work with my team.

There were top players like Nour El Sherbini, Raneem El Welily, Nouran Gohar, Camille Serme and Massaro. So how difficult was it to get or stay there?

I definitely played with a bunch of incredibly talented and hardworking women who were greats of the game. Playing with them, beating some of them and making it to the top 10 was one of the best moments of my career.

What did the win over Nicol — an eight-time World champion — in the 2018 Asian Games women’s team semifinals mean to you?

It meant a lot because I have always looked up to her and admired how humble she is as a champion. I really wanted to do it for the team. She is one of the greatest of all-time. Coming in from the disappointment of losing singles and making the team final after beating a strong team like Malaysia was amazing!

You had a on-court rivalry with Dipika Pallikal but shared a bond and went on to bag medals at the Asian Games and Commonwealth Games…

We have had some amazing wins together for India and I will always think of my time competing with her and playing alongside her as inspiring and motivating.

You have won 11 Tour titles. You had to wait 10 years to earn your latest crown, at the Japan Open in 2025. Why did it take so long to end the drought?

I didn’t expect to win in Japan. It felt great to win after ages, especially since I beat girls who were in their early 20s and were ranked way higher than me. The difference now is that I am a lot more relaxed towards competing and I am more performance-oriented than result-focused. Maybe it just helps me enjoy and appreciate these moments more and play better squash.

Every title I have won has come at different times of my life: they all have come after years of training and preparation. Each one has been rewarding.

How have you been able to sustain at this level for nearly quarter of a century? Is it down to mental sharpness, your focus on fitness, outlook towards life or all three?

The main reason I am able to still compete today is my parents. My team, including my coach, strength and conditioning trainer, physios, nutritionist and sports psychologist, has been amazing. The support from my sponsors, the State government, Central government and Squash Rackets Federation of India has been great. It takes a lot to compete at the highest level and it’s only possible because of the amazing people I work with. I do work a lot on the mental and physical side of the game besides recovery. I really appreciate and worship my body, which has been so incredibly supportive.

How much has the sport evolved since you began playing?

So much! At the international level, the game has become so much more physically demanding, faster and skilful. Domestically, we have many players playing, and the level has improved a lot. Seeing so many PSA (World Tour) events happening in India is wonderful because many of our players benefit tremendously by playing in them and watching the top players competing here in India.

Squash will make its debut at the 2028 LA Olympics…

Such exciting times ahead for squash. India has a great chance to do well.

You had knee injuries/surgeries in 2011 and 2023? How challenging was it physically and mentally to come back from those?

I tore my ACL on the right knee in 2011 and was out of the game for a year. I was encouraged to quit playing and get into coaching. I had no financial support but I moved to Bombay (Mumbai) and worked with a really good Egyptian physio and trainer — Ahmed Youssef. When I got back to playing, coach Ritwik Bhattacharya helped me. Some of my best victories came after that surgery because I believed I had a lot more to offer to the game and I really wanted to play for India again.

And in 2023, during the last Asian Games, I found that there was no cartilage in my right knee and it also needed a surgery. But I did the surgery more for quality of life as it was painful to do basic things like driving, getting out of bed comfortably and jogging. My surgeon, Dr. Jagdeesh, who did my ACL surgery, also did my cartilage surgery and told me that I would be able to compete again. So I moved to Bengaluru and worked with Yash Pandey at Peak Performance. I got back on court after five months of rehab. I decided to train and play for a couple more years to see if I could play the Asian Games.

How big a support has your father been and what are your memories of playing with him at Madras Cricket Club?

My dad is the main reason I am here today. He introduced me to the game as he was a squash player himself. I have the best memories of tagging along with him to the MCC and playing squash with him, other MCC members and my friends. He was my coach and motivator for a very long time, especially when I was a junior.

India’s Mirabai Chanu clinches her third successive weightlifting Commonwealth Games gold medal in the women’s 48kg category at the 23rd Commonwealth Games, in Glasgow, Scotland, Sunday, July 26, 2026.
| Photo Credit: PTI

Chukwuebuka Enekwechi presents a fine example of how perseverance can reward an athlete. Despite funding issues, the Nigerian lived in the USA for years to pursue his studies and shot put career before ultimately writing a bit of sporting history. He became the first shot putter from his country to win gold at the Commonwealth Games, achieving the feat in Glasgow.

It was a moment of immense pride for the 33-year-old as he recorded a mark of 21.07m and pipped one of his idols, New Zealand’s Worlds and Olympic medallist Tom Walsh. Fresh from his CWG glory, Enekwechi, who hails from the Anambra State, lived up to his billing by securing the top place with 20.78m at the World Athletics Continental Tour Silver meet at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar.

During an interaction, he spoke about his journey, ambitions and experience of competing in India.

How did you feel after becoming Nigeria’s first shot putter to win gold at the Commonwealth Games?

It was amazing, especially at that moment. My life hasn’t changed much, but it was a piece of history. It was a huge honour. Many people tried before me and came close. For me to be the first person in history, it’s something that nobody can take away from me. And I made a lot of people proud and happy. That means the world to me.

You had clinched a silver in the 2018 CWG. What happened after that?

It was eight years ago. A lot can change in one year. I tried to get a medal in Birmingham (2022) but I didn’t. I was fourth. The pressure doubled leading up to Glasgow. But I knew I had to stay consistent, work hard and take it extremely seriously. I prepared very well, but I was also a bit lucky to have that win. So I’m very grateful.

How did you get into shot put?

I just wanted to lift weights and I had to do something. I had to join a team to lift weights. So I joined athletics on a whim, and things just kept getting better and better.

What challenges do Nigerian throwers face?

It’s mostly infrastructure issues. A lot of the attention goes towards sprints and events that already have funding from shoe companies. The throws (events) don’t get much funding. That would make a big difference… some of it is like investing in coaching and facilities.

The other thing is that I’ve had a lot of international success. Maybe leaning into that, positioning me in a position where I can help out some of the young guys coming up. That would be a very big benefit for the nation.

Where do you train and how is the funding now?

Funding… it’s not there. But I train in Lafayette, Indiana (USA). I went to school at Purdue University and that’s where I train now. I moved there for schooling and after I graduated, I just stayed there and continued to train. I’m 10 years out of school, so I’ve been there for 15 years now.

What advice will you give to young Nigerian throwers?

Give yourself a chance because when you look at me, I’m not the biggest thrower. I’m probably the shortest guy in the field: I’m 180 centimetres tall. And if you looked at me, especially before I put on a lot of muscle, you would not have thought of me as world-class or as a 22-metre shot putter. But I took a chance on myself and I was able to execute it. What it means is that many more kids can do what I did or even better.

Do you get the opportunity to go back to Nigeria?

Yeah, I go to Nigeria once or twice every year… for the National championships, for the sports festival. I take that opportunity to coach some of the local talent. Just kind of give them advice, give the coaches advice… just like there’s so much support for the Indian talent. That’s how I feel for my countrymen. I want them to succeed just as much as anybody would for their country. I do as much as I can to help.

What’s your next goal?

I would love to get another major medal and improve my personal best. I’m 33 years old now, but every year I seem to find something new to add to my repertoire. I just want to keep improving. Before I start to decline, I just want to be consistent at a high level.

Do you have anything specific in mind?

I want to keep making finals and compete for a medal at major championships. That would be awesome.

Who are your inspirations?

Some of the guys who are still competing. I looked up to Joe Kovacs for a long time. He’s one of the throwers who’s not the biggest but super powerful and consistent. I followed him and added my own stuff to get to a world-class level.

And the funny thing is I’m like that for some younger throwers now. It’s kind of full circle. Joe was a big inspiration for me… Reese Hoffa, Ryan Whiting and Adam Nelson. A lot of the guys who are still involved in the sport… even Walsh. We’re not that different in terms of age, but he was achieving at such a high level when I was still in university. These guys are friends now. But I looked up to them and I kind of learned from them.

Have you made some Indian friends?

Yeah. I met two of the local guys. I’ve known Tajinderpal Singh Toor for years now. I just met Samardeep Gill in Glasgow. In shot put, we’re all competitors but we’re also colleagues. So there’s always respect in the first place. I know the guys were cheering each other on in between rounds. Even though we compete hard, there’s a lot of support within the group.

How was the experience of coming to India and competing here?

It was very nice. One thing I can tell about India is that Indians are very proud of their culture. We had a good immersive experience. The music, meeting some of the dignitaries, the art styles, culture, food. We were immersed in the culture. I’ve been at it for 10 years now. This is my first time in India. New experiences are always welcome. I had a lot of fun.

Published – September 01, 2026 07:14 am IST

India finished fourth at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, which concluded last week on August 2, with 39 medals — 13 gold, 17 silver and nine bronze. The result came despite the absence of several sports disciplines that have historically supplied the bulk of India’s Commonwealth haul, marking another chapter in a medal history that has grown from one medal in 1934 to 603 across editions.

India’s Commonwealth success has long been concentrated in a handful of sports. Shooting, wrestling and weightlifting alone account for 390 of India’s 603 medals, roughly two-thirds of the total. While boxing, badminton, and table tennis have added another 113.

Shooting, wrestling, badminton, table tennis and hockey, all important contributors to India’s past medal tallies, were absent. Glasgow hosted a pared-down programme of 10 sports after the Commonwealth Games was forced to find a replacement host following Victoria’s withdrawal. The 2026 programme included athletics, swimming, track cycling, weightlifting, 3×3 basketball, lawn bowls, netball, artistic gymnastics and judo and boxing, alongside para events.

Even without many of its traditional medal-producing sports, India still finished fourth.

A brief history

India’s Commonwealth journey began in London in 1934, when wrestler Rashid Anwar won India’s first medal, a bronze in the 74kg freestyle category and a 12th-place finish. India missed the 1930, 1950, 1962, 1986 editions, won no medals in 1938 and remained unranked in 1954. Its first gold medals came in 1958, when Milkha Singh won the 440-yard race and wrestler Lila Ram triumphed in the 100kg category, and Lachmi Kant Pandey won a silver.

The tally steadily grew, reaching 10 medals in 1966, 12 in 1970 and 15 in 1974, when India finished sixth each time. By 1990, it had risen to 32 medals and fifth place.

Women gradually became a larger part of India’s medal haul. Their first Commonwealth medal came in 1978, when badminton players Ami Ghia and Kanwal Thakar Singh won bronze in the women’s doubles at Edmonton. India then won two women’s medals in 1994 and three in 1998.

The breakthrough came in 2002, when the tricolour began to rise on the Commonwealth stage. India crossed the 50-medal mark for the first time, winning 69 medals and finishing fourth. It followed that with 50 medals and another fourth-place finish in 2006. Then came its greatest Commonwealth campaign at Delhi 2010, where India won a record 101 medals — 64 by men, 36 by women and one in a mixed event — finishing second.

In Glasgow 2026, India won 39 medals and women accounted for 41% of India’s tally.

The longer-term trend puts Glasgow in perspective. India accounted for just 0.5% of all medals awarded in 1934, when it won its first Commonwealth medal. Its share crossed 5% for the first time in 1990, when it won 32 of the 638 medals awarded. The share rose sharply from 2002 onwards, reaching 7.7% in 2002 and 6.7% in 2006. At the Delhi 2010 Games, India reached its peak, winning 101 of the 828 medals awarded —12.2% of the total. Its share remained above 7% in 2014 and 2018, at 7.8% and 7.9%, respectively, before falling to 7% in Birmingham in 2022.

In Glasgow, India won 39 of the 671 medals awarded, accounting for 5.8%. This was its lowest medal haul since 1958, when it won three medals. However, the smaller programme and the absence of several sports in which India has historically performed strongly make direct comparisons with earlier editions difficult. Overall, India won 603 of the 10,636 medals awarded across the editions in the editions India participated, accounting for 5.7% of the total.

Australia back on top

Australia finished first in Glasgow, returning to the top of the Commonwealth medal table after England topped the standings at Birmingham in 2022.

Australia’s dominance is also striking when viewed against India’s much larger population. It has accumulated 2,773 Commonwealth medals, compared with India’s 603, despite having a population of roughly 28 million against India’s 1.46 billion. Canada has won 1,709 medals with a population of about 41.7 million, while New Zealand has won 743 medals with just 5.3 million people.

The comparison is not intended as a medals-per-capita ranking — the countries have competed in different circumstances and across different numbers of Games — but it highlights the very different sporting systems behind their Commonwealth records. Australia has consistently converted a much smaller population into a far larger medal haul, as children have access to many sports, usually experimenting with multiple sports before finding their specialisation. Its nation-wide ‘Little Athletics’ is their initial introduction to athletics, equipped with experienced coaches, who are unrestricted by bureaucratic central bodies. Australian athletes aren’t pushed to perform young, and many gain experience in American colleges before competing officially. In contrast, India’s medals have historically been concentrated in a relatively narrow group of sports.

(With inputs from Sachin Swaraj who is interning with The Hindu’s Data Team. Gauri Singavarapu is also an intern with the team.)

Published – August 12, 2026 07:00 am IST

Gold medallist India’s Sachin Siwach poses for photographs during the presentation ceremony after the men’s 60kg final boxing event at the 23rd Commonwealth Games (CWG), in Glasgow, Scotland, Saturday, Aug. 1, 2026.
| Photo Credit: PTI

India’s Jadumani Singh Mandengbam, blue, competes against Pakistan’s Sumama Rehman during the men’s 55kg boxing round of 16 at the 23rd Commonwealth Games, in Glasgow, Scotland.
| Photo Credit: PTI

Mirabai Chanu at a training session in Modinagar, Uttar Pradesh, on March 05, 2026.
| Photo Credit: FILE PHOTO: SHASHI SHEKHAR KASHYAP

Neeraj will lead the Indian athletics squad.
| Photo Credit: PTI

On June 27 evening, immediately after Sarvesh Kushare ended his four-year quest to better Tejaswin Shankar’s eight-year-old high jump National record of 2.28m at the National inter-state athletics meet at Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar by clearing 2.31m, Tejaswin took to his ‘X’ handle to write: “Another mental barrier broken!! 2.30+ was probably the last of the sticky records. 2.34-35 is just a matter of time.”

Worlds and Olympics gold medallist javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra endorsed Tejaswin’s statement, and Sarvesh’s achievement of becoming the first Indian to go past 2.30m, by reposting it.

With very few world-class marks to their name, Indian athletes’ hunger for success is understandable. Perhaps that appetite kept 30-year-old Sarvesh patient in the hunt to surpass the 2.30m barrier. He had missed it by a whisker when he recorded 2.28m at the Federation meet in Ranchi a month ago, before seeing his perseverance rewarded.

No excuse

“At 2.28m, my ankle slipped a little in Ranchi. I was in good condition. I still had a light injury. But I had to do it today. There was no excuse. The weather was good. The ground was also good. Overall, there was a lot of motivation. I also held the Asian Games qualifying mark for the first time. I’m improving — what more can I ask for!” said Sarvesh.

“My body felt good. My coach had said it would happen this time. I was determined. 2.30m was not happening despite my long-time effort to get it. So, I thought today I would do 2.31m. It was a lot of fun doing that,” said Sarvesh, as he displayed different antics as the bar went up and up and he kept sailing over it effortlessly.

“It was very difficult to go above 2.30m. If Tejaswin had not done 2.28m in 2018, I would not have come this far. I was also progressing slowly. Today, by the grace of God, everything went well. I have tried this during training, but I had not done it so well prior to today. Since our preparation was top-class, anything was possible.”

Now, 2.31m has placed Sarvesh as the joint fourth season leader in the world, along with British jumper Kimani Jack, and first in Asia, ahead of tied-sixth spot holders Japan’s Naoto Hasegawa and Tomohiro Shinno and Korea’s Sanghyeok Woo, who have all cleared 2.30m. “Everyone wants to win a gold medal at the Asian Games. I will also try to win one,” said Sarvesh.

Pressure under control

Sarvesh’s coach Jithin Thomas, a former Asian silver medallist with a personal best of 2.22m, shared his thoughts about the feat. “This time, the pressure was under control. I told him to stay focused and control the pressure. This time, the work was about that. I knew if we controlled the pressure, then the jump would happen.”

For Sarvesh, who competed in the Paris Olympics and was a finalist at the Tokyo World Championships last year, the right pace of his run-up did the trick. Apart from the requisite exercises, visualisation is a main activity in Sarvesh’s training.

“The difference was the run-up. Earlier, he used to pick up speed from the beginning and move uncontrollably. He was trying to speed up too early. Now, in the beginning, the speed was under control. Then gradually, it went up. He was trained that way. He needs to work on it. I told him, ‘Stay focused and you will clear it smoothly.’

“I told him that no one has done 2.30m in India. If you do 2.30m, your name will be up there as long as high jump is there in India.

Patience pays

“In high jump, there is a mark for everyone. Then it becomes stagnant. Some people pursue it for two-three years and leave it. If you have patience, then you will be able to improve it. Because Sarvesh had the patience, he could do it. There was this belief that he would do it, so now there is relief. It’s the greatest day of my life. “Because he had done (well earlier), he was after it. We were focused. We were careful that he should not pick up any injuries. There were small injuries. Still, we were focused. We kept talking about it. The mark kept improving and we were able to do it.”

With a smile, Sarvesh, who hails from a village near Nashik in Maharashtra, quipped, “He (Jithin) spoke very little to me this week. I don’t know what he was thinking.”

Sarvesh acknowledges that the support extended by his coach, his family, his employer the Indian Army, his sponsor OGQ, and the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) played a key role in his journey. “I am confident. If the training goes well and there are no injuries, then confidence will increase. If everyone’s support is there, then we can go ahead. Especially my coach, who has not taken any leave for seven months, and my family members are very supportive. That’s why I am able to do it. Otherwise, I would have been disturbed.”

Sarvesh is happy to note that Indian jumpers, including women’s National record holder Pooja Singh — who, like Sarvesh, trains at the Anju Bobby George Academy in Bengaluru — are doing well. “Yes, it did impact me mentally that Pooja broke the National mark. She set a record of 1.93m. We were thinking that we would do well. She made a National record before me. I did it after her. Dev Meena is also doing well in pole vault. He is also breaking National records. This is a good year for jumpers.” Needless to say, long jumpers Ancy Sojan, who broke Anju’s 22-year-old National record, and M. Sreeshankar and Shahnavaz Khan, who achieved his season best, are also among the Indians who have achieved world-class marks this season.

Encouraging sign

Even in men’s high jump, the presence of some good athletes, including Tejaswin, Adarsh Ram, and Basant, is an encouraging sign. “A pool of jumpers should be there — only then can there be improvement. Otherwise, Sarvesh will be alone. Whoever achieves something first, his name remains up there,” said Jithin.

After breaching the 2.30m peak in June, Sarvesh became the first Indian high jumper to earn a podium, by finishing third with a mark of 2.26m, on his Diamond League debut in Monaco on July 10. Now, Sarvesh and his coach Jithin are bubbling with confidence while eyeing higher marks and glorious medals in the upcoming Commonwealth Games and Asian Games. “I hope Sarvesh maintains his focus and patience. He will go far,” said Jithin.

Published – July 15, 2026 11:56 pm IST

Ancy Sojan, having eclipsed Anju Bobby George’s 22-year-old National mark of 6.83m set at the 2004 Athens Olympics, has a clear target: the Asian Games gold in Aichi-Nagoya in September this year.

“I want to bring the gold medal with a high class jump. I am aiming for the Asian Games record also so that I can directly qualify for the World championship next year. 6.86m is the qualification mark (for the Worlds) and the qualifying period will start from August 23,” said Ancy, who clinched a silver medal at the last Asian Games in 2023 with a jump of 6.63m. She is now the Asian season leader, thanks to her effort of 6.88m at the National inter-State athletics meet in Bhubaneswar recently

On her exceptional performance in hot and humid conditions, Ancy — who had recorded her personal best of 6.75m at the Federation meet in Ranchi in May — said, “I came here to do my personal best and be a good world class performer. I didn’t aim for the National Record.”

She was relieved with the breakthrough. “Finally it happened, I felt like I was getting tired but I remembered ‘What if I go to represent our country and if I feel tired?’ Suddenly, I remembered my last Asian Games and I got a boost. With all the belief, I took a good breath and jumped, it happened.”

She’s happy with the progress but wants more. “I am so happy that I am improving. I think, let’s aim higher than this.

An experiment

“Mentally and physically it’s like an experiment. You get tired but still you have to jump because you train for that. I want the energy, after 10 jumps I want to stay the same. Each and every training session I am thinking about the target I want to achieve, so that it helps me push more. Today I thought I was competing in the Asian Games and I felt that someone could beat me, so I needed to grab the medal for our nation. Suddenly it encouraged me, it’s fun.”

For Ancy, the record-breaking jump, which pushed her to seventh place among world leaders this season, sent a message. “This is a statement that India also has good jumpers, if someone works hard she can achieve it. Just believe in yourself, be patient and be dedicated to our work. People will say things but never mind, be true to yourself. I do the same.”

The build-up to her remarkable performance in Bhubaneswar started after the Ranchi meet. “After that (Ranchi), I trained hard the same way. Every training I just aimed at what I wanted to be… focusing on technique, run-up and fitness. Each session I pushed hard, I just stuck to my plan.

“Lots of people asked me why you didn’t push for the Commonwealth Games qualification. I knew this jump was not easy, so I needed more time for training. I just focused on training only, so I could get there. This was the only (qualifying) competition for the Asian Games. I worked hard and finally got a good result. We had a good plan, God helped us.”

The record wasn’t Ancy’s target. “I was not chasing the record actually. I didn’t have any records in my name at the National level. I wanted to do my personal best and a world class jump. Because I am aiming to compete at the international level. I see their enthusiasm. I had competed before in my first Commonwealth (in 2022 and did 6.25m). I was a beginner and I saw people jumping. It was like literally enraged me, their speed and ability. So I felt like I could also do the same. If I want to be like them, I need to jump like them. I aim to become a world-class jumper. I want to keep improving. I want to be consistent with that.”

The competition had tense moments. “Before my first jump, I was under a little bit of pressure, I wanted to be safe. But the first jump I did in my lifetime, 7m-plus jump. I was so happy and tension-free. In between, there were some fouls and minor issues. Then I was a little tired, so I went to my coach (Anoop Joseph), because I felt some stomach issues. He said, ‘Nothing, you are okay.’ It charged me up, suddenly I got goosebumps and my eyes got wet.

“I then remembered a scene… I was watching a reel of the film on Milkha Singh. He is wearing the India blazer and is asked ‘Who told you to wear this?’ And he says, ‘I am just trying this.’ Suddenly the coach comes and hits him and says, ‘If you want to wear the Indian jersey, you have to beat him (your opponent). His coach insisted, ‘Tell him you have to beat him.’ Finally Milkha says, ‘Yes.’ It really inspired me. The same thing I tell myself, you have to beat that. And finally the moment happened.”

A legend

For Ancy, her senior Kerala Statemate Anju remains an inspiration. “I knew Anju ma’am had a huge jump, 6.83m. She struggled a lot (to reach there). She is a legend. I am aiming to be like her, I want to become a world class jumper.

“I want to say that ma’am is truly an inspiration. I recently read that she has one kidney and her story inspired me a lot. I saw her jump several times and I knew how hard she trained for that also. I hope ma’am is happy about this and would support me.”

Ancy looked back at the hormonal issues that had held her back last year. “I had some hormonal issues, I was not able to get fit like this. This year I sacrificed a lot of food and decided that I wanted to become a world class jumper. Even my coach reminded me, ‘If you sacrifice and be dedicated, you will get the result. If you want to jump like a top performer, you will have to train like that.’ So if I feel tired during training, I say, ‘You have to do it.’ It helps me to push harder and train.

“I am mentally more stable than before. The experience, the difficulties and the obstacles have made me stronger. And God is helping me. I never thought it would happen. I was missing the mark narrowly because of some mistakes. But finally it happened.”

Disciplined lifestyle

Ancy doesn’t regret maintaining a disciplined lifestyle. “I love to eat a lot of food. But I remember why I am here. I tell myself, ‘First you achieve your goal, then eat.’ All the sacrifices including social media, food, whatever, will get you the result.

“I reduced my food quantity because of the hormonal issues as I used to put on weight. It is very hard to jump with a lot of weight. Last year I struggled with that. This year my diet is good. I started early, took time and prepared very well. I followed my coach’s advice. I got the result. Now I am 55kg. Before this, it was 63kg. Now my body fat is 13% after coming down from 26%.”

Ancy rides on her renewed confidence as she approaches the Asian Games. “This year I want to bring gold and hear the National anthem of India. I love biryani and rice. Now I completely avoid that. Maybe, I will have that after the Asian Games,” she said.

Published – July 06, 2026 01:06 am IST