Ancy Sojan made a strong start to her 2026 outdoor season by winning gold in the women’s long jump at the Indian Athletics Series – 1 in Bengaluru.
She secured the top spot with a jump of 6.54m, which came in her very first attempt. It turned out to be her best mark of the day and set the tone for the competition.
Ancy delivered a consistent series throughout the event: 6.54m, 6.48m, 6.47m, 6.48m, 6.50m, and one foul.
The competition was held at the Kanteerava Stadium, a venue that has been very special for Ancy.
She had earlier registered her personal best of 6.71m at this same stadium in 2024. She also jumped 6.52m here during the Indian Grand Prix. Now, she has added another strong performance of 6.54m at the same ground.
Clearly, Bengaluru continues to be her “happy hunting ground.”
Shaili Singh finished second with a best jump of 6.52m. However, it was not her best outing.
She recorded four consecutive fouls, which affected her rhythm in the competition.
Despite having a personal best of 6.76m, Shaili has crossed the 6.60m mark only once in last year, a 6.64m jump at the Federation Cup. While she won a bronze medal at the Asian Championships last year, her overall performances have been average. This is something that could be a concern going forward.
Today, Moumita Mondal secured third place with a jump of 6.37m, completing the podium.
Ancy has been in impressive form this year. She recently won a bronze medal at the Asian Indoor Championships 2026 with a jump of 6.21m.
This first place is especially important because she had to end her previous season early due to injury. Now, she looks fully fit and confident.
She is currently India’s third-best long jumper and still improving.