Asian Games silver medallist Ancy Sojan will miss the Indian Athletics Series–9, which is set to serve as the final selection meet for the 2026 Commonwealth Games.

The 25-Year-old showed sensational form at the Federation Cup winning gold, shattering the meet record registering her lifetime best jump of 6.75m which is India’s all-time 3rd best distance achieved by Indian Women After National record distance if 6.84m by Anju Bobby George 2004, 6.76m by Shaili Singh in 2023.

At fed cup Ancy missed the Commonwealth Games qualification of 6.84m by just 9cm, after AFI announced that Indian Series-9 will also be act as the final selection competition a hope raised maybe she can achieved the mark here but the Asian games silver medallist has decided to instead skip the event which means skipping the CWG 2026.
Replying to nnis’s message Ancy confirms she will be skipping the Indian Series – 9 and will be preparing for the Interstate which will be the Final selection trials for Asian games.

BUT WHY SKIPPING TH CWG 2026!!

To qualify for the Commonwealth Games 2026, Ancy will have to jump 6.84 m (NR) for which she will need to peak again, having already peaked her performance at the Fed Cup with a jump of 6.75 m. Peaking again just to qualify could will affect her performance at the Interstate and can affect her preparation for the Asian Games.

At Commonwealth game last edition Nigeria’s Ese Brume clinched gold in Women’s Long jump with the best leap of 7m, while Australia’s Brooke Buschkuehl and Ghana’s Deborah Acquah take Silver and Bronze with 6.95m and 6.94m respectively.

While at Asian games last edition:

Shiqi Xiong – 6.73m, Ancy Sojan – 6.63m and Nga Yan “Tiffany” Yue with 6.50m, all 3 registered the lifetime best mark.
Looking at Ancy’s current form she can surely upgrade her last edition Silver to gold, peaking 4 times in 4 months can be really tough and increase the risk of injury.

Indian long jumper Shaili Singh added another international medal to her growing collection, clinching gold in the women’s long jump at the New Taipei City Athletics Open 2026 with a best effort of 6.24m.

The 21-year-old emerged victorious despite not producing her best form of the season. Shaili’s winning mark came in the second round, and none of her competitors were able to surpass it as she secured the top spot on the podium.

Her series read: 6.03m, 6.24m, 6.23m, X, X, 6.10m, highlighting a consistent competition despite a couple of fouls in the latter stages.

While the gold medal will be a welcome boost, Shaili has already demonstrated significantly better form this season. Just weeks ago at the Federation Cup 2026, she claimed silver with a season’s best jump of 6.58m, a mark that placed her among the leading long jumpers in Asia this year.

Her personal best of 6.76m, achieved in 2023, remains one of the best performances by an Indian woman in recent years and underlines the potential many believe she is yet to fully realize.

Shaili first shot to prominence as a teenager when she won silver at the World U20 Athletics Championships in Nairobi in 2021. Coached by legendary long jumper and Olympic medalist Anju Bobby George, she quickly emerged as one of India’s brightest field-event prospects. Her silver medal in Nairobi came behind Serbia’s Adriana Vilagoš and marked one of the finest performances by an Indian jumper at a global age-group championship.

Over the past few seasons, Shaili has established herself as one of India’s leading long jumpers, regularly competing alongside national record holder Ancy Sojan and helping raise the standard of women’s horizontal jumps in the country.

The victory in New Taipei City may not have featured the distances Shaili is capable of producing, but it demonstrated another important quality—the ability to win even when not at her very best. Championship competitions often demand consistency rather than personal bests, and the Indian jumper delivered exactly that.

With the Asian Games cycle gathering momentum, Shaili will be encouraged by the fact that she remains capable of challenging for medals while operating below her peak level. The next objective will be to rediscover the form that saw her jump 6.58m earlier this season and move closer to her personal best of 6.76m.

India’s Sachin Yadav concluded his Rome Diamond League debut without crossing the 80m mark, with his best effort of the evening measuring 79.18m.
The Indian javelin thrower opened with a foul before registering throws of 79.18m, 77.02m, 76.62m and 75.54m to end his campaign. His series read: X, 79.18m, 77.02m, 76.62m, 75.54m.
The World Championships finalist has now missed the 80m mark in back-to-back competitions after also throwing 79.07m at the Federation Cup 2026. Despite the recent dip in form, Sachin enjoyed a breakthrough 2025 season, finishing fourth at the World Championships and recording a lifetime best of 86.27m.
Meanwhile, Sri Lanka’s Rumesh Pathirage stole the spotlight with a sensational performance, clinching the Rome Diamond League title with a massive lifetime best throw of 92.62m.
The mark not only improved his personal best by a significant margin but also established a new world lead for 2026. The throw elevated Pathirage to Asia’s all-time No. 2 performer and the 21st-best performer in world history.
Having entered the competition as the world leader, the 23-year-old Sri Lankan further strengthened his credentials with one of the finest throws ever produced by an Asian javelin thrower.
With his remarkable display in Rome, Pathirage has firmly announced himself as a genuine global medal contender and one of the brightest rising stars in world javelin.

World Championships finalist Sachin Yadav is set to make his Diamond League debut at the Rome Diamond League 2026 today. The 26-year-old athlete will be the only Indian competing at the prestigious meet, with 2020 Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra missing from the start list since he is yet to begin his season.

Sachin had a breakthrough 2025 season, clinching a silver at the Asian Championships in South Korea and securing a fourth-place finish at the World Championships in Tokyo.

He will be up against the Elite line-up:

He will be in action will be in action at the Olympic Stadium in Rome on June 4 at the Diamond League 2026. His event is to begin around 10:40 pm IST.

The Rome Diamond League 2026 will be live-streamed on the YouTube channel of Wanda Diamond League.

In his most recent outing at the Federation Cup 2026 in Ranchi, Sachin finished fifth with a throw of 79.07m, missing the Commonwealth Games qualification mark of 82.61m, which also will be his main target at the Rome.

The men’s javelin throw at the Rome Diamond League brings together Olympic medallists, world champions, former Diamond League winners and emerging talents from across the globe. With multiple athletes in the field capable of throwing beyond 85 metres, fans can expect a high-quality contest featuring some of the biggest names in the event. Here’s a closer look at the athletes competing in Rome.

1. Rumesh Tharanga (Sri Lanka)

Rumesh Tharanga has emerged as one of Sri Lanka’s leading field event athletes and continues to raise the profile of javelin throwing in the country. The Sri Lankan has steadily improved over recent seasons, producing several national-level performances that have earned him opportunities on the international circuit. Known for his strong run-up and aggressive throwing style, Tharanga represents a growing generation of South Asian field athletes aiming to challenge the sport’s traditional powerhouses. Competing in Rome offers valuable exposure and an opportunity to test himself against Olympic champions, world medallists and some of the finest throwers in the world.

2. Sachin Yadav (India)

Sachin Yadav has rapidly become one of India’s most promising javelin throwers. The young athlete announced himself with a series of impressive performances on the domestic circuit and has continued to improve against international competition. Standing out for his physical strength and technically sound throwing action, Yadav is widely regarded as one of the country’s leading prospects behind Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra. Rome represents one of the biggest stages of his career so far. A strong performance against a world-class field would further underline India’s growing depth in the men’s javelin and boost Yadav’s confidence heading into future championships.

3. Anderson Peters (Grenada)

Anderson Peters remains one of the biggest names in global javelin throwing. The Grenadian is a two-time world champion and one of only a handful of athletes in history to throw beyond 90 metres multiple times. Renowned for his explosive power and consistency, Peters has spent several years competing at the highest level of the sport. His ability to deliver massive throws under pressure makes him a favourite whenever he enters a competition. Rome provides another opportunity for the former world champion to remind the athletics world why he remains one of the most feared competitors in men’s javelin.

4. Thomas Röhler (Germany)

Thomas Röhler is one of the most accomplished javelin throwers of the modern era. The German star won Olympic gold at Rio 2016 and owns a personal best of 93.90m, one of the longest throws ever recorded. Throughout his career, Röhler has been admired for his technical precision and ability to peak for major championships. Injuries have presented challenges in recent years, but his experience and pedigree remain unmatched. Every appearance by the Olympic champion generates excitement among athletics fans, and Rome offers another chance for him to demonstrate the quality that made him one of the event’s all-time greats.

5. Keshorn Walcott (Trinidad and Tobago)

Keshorn Walcott made history when he became Olympic champion at London 2012, delivering one of the most memorable performances in javelin history. The Trinidad and Tobago athlete remains one of the sport’s most respected figures and continues to compete against younger rivals more than a decade after his Olympic triumph. Walcott’s longevity is a testament to his dedication and technical excellence. Even after years on the international circuit, he remains capable of producing big throws on important occasions. Rome gives fans another opportunity to watch one of the event’s most iconic athletes in action.

6. Curtis Thompson (United States)

Curtis Thompson has become the leading figure in American men’s javelin throwing. The US record holder has consistently pushed the boundaries of the event in a country where javelin traditionally receives less attention than track disciplines. Thompson’s powerful technique and competitive mindset have helped him establish himself as a regular contender on the international circuit. His performances in recent years have demonstrated that he can challenge many of the world’s top throwers. A strong outing in Rome would further strengthen his position among the leading athletes heading into the remainder of the season.

7. Jakub Vadlejch (Czech Republic)

Jakub Vadlejch is one of the most consistent javelin throwers of his generation. The Czech athlete has won Olympic and World Championship medals and has spent years competing at the highest level. Known for his calm demeanour and ability to produce big throws when it matters most, Vadlejch is a proven championship performer. His technical efficiency and reliability have made him a fixture among the world’s elite. Rome presents another opportunity for the Czech star to add to his impressive record and challenge for victory against a field packed with accomplished competitors.

8. Dawid Wegner (Poland)

Dawid Wegner represents the next generation of Polish javelin talent. The young thrower has steadily climbed the European rankings through a combination of strong performances and continued technical development. While still building experience at the highest level, Wegner has shown glimpses of significant potential and has begun competing more regularly against elite opposition. Events like the Rome Diamond League are invaluable for his progression, providing the chance to learn from some of the sport’s most accomplished athletes while testing his abilities in a world-class environment.

9. Julius Yego (Kenya)

Julius Yego’s story remains one of the most inspiring in athletics. Nicknamed the “YouTube Man” after teaching himself the event through online videos, Yego went on to become world champion and an Olympic silver medallist. The Kenyan transformed perceptions of African participation in throwing events and inspired a generation of athletes across the continent. Even years after his biggest successes, Yego continues to compete with passion and determination. His presence in Rome adds a unique dimension to the field and provides fans with the opportunity to watch one of athletics’ most remarkable success stories.

10. Giovanni Frattini (Italy)

Giovanni Frattini will carry home hopes into the competition as Italy’s representative in the field. The young Italian thrower continues to gain valuable experience against international opposition and has shown encouraging progress in recent seasons. Competing at the Stadio Olimpico in front of a supportive crowd will provide additional motivation as he takes on some of the biggest names in world javelin. While facing Olympic champions and world medallists is a significant challenge, the experience gained in Rome could prove crucial in Frattini’s continued development as an international-level athlete.

Indian long jump received a timely boost ahead of the upcoming competition season as national record holder Jeswin Aldrin and Federation Cup champion David P both cleared the coveted 8-metre mark at the Tamil Nadu State Trials.

Jeswin produced a best jump of 8.03m to secure the men’s long jump title, while David finished a close second with 8.02m. Although the performances will not count as official marks, they serve as an encouraging sign for two of India’s leading horizontal jumpers.

For Jeswin, the result is particularly significant. The 23-year-old has endured a difficult period over the past two years, battling injuries that disrupted his momentum after his breakthrough 2023 season. He underwent knee surgery and spent much of 2024 and early 2025 working his way back to full fitness.

His jump of 8.03m marks the first time he has crossed the 8-metre barrier in competition since his peak form, providing a major confidence boost as he looks to return to the international stage.

Jeswin remains India’s national record holder with a leap of 8.42m, achieved at the Indian Open Jumps Competition in Bellary in 2023. That mark not only broke the long-standing national record but also briefly placed him among the world’s leading long jumpers that season. He went on to represent India at both the World Championships and the Paris Olympics, though injuries prevented him from reproducing his best form on the global stage.

Meanwhile, David P continued his impressive rise. The Federation Cup 2025 champion demonstrated remarkable consistency, registering 8.02m in his third attempt before backing it up with another 8.00m jump in the sixth and final round.

The fact that two Indian jumpers exceeded 8 metres on the same day highlights the growing depth in the men’s long jump event. While the marks will not be officially recognized, they indicate that both athletes are moving in the right direction ahead of the national season and international qualification events.

With Jeswin rediscovering his rhythm and David continuing to build momentum, Indian athletics could have multiple contenders capable of challenging the 8-metre barrier consistently in the months ahead.

India’s Nishchay delivered the performance of his young career to win the silver medal in the men’s discus throw at the U20 Asian Athletics Championships 2026 in Hong Kong, setting a new Indian U20 national record in the process.

The Indian thrower produced a massive effort of 60.10m, the first time he has crossed the 60-metre mark in his career. The throw not only earned him a place on the podium but also rewrote the national U20 record books, making it one of India’s standout performances of the championships.

For Nishchay, the competition was a breakthrough moment on multiple fronts. His silver-medal-winning throw was a personal best, a national record and the first 60m-plus mark of his career, underlining the rapid progress he has made this season.

The discus final was one of the highest-quality contests of the entire championships. Kazakhstan’s Maxim secured the gold medal with a throw of 60.45m, narrowly edging out Nishchay for the top spot. Qatar’s Hamad Dhawi took bronze with 59.47m, ensuring that all three medallists finished within a metre of each other.

The level of competition was extraordinary, with the top six finishers all recording personal bests. Such a statistic reflects the intensity of the event and highlights the significance of Nishchay’s achievement in a field packed with athletes producing career-best performances.

Throughout the competition, Nishchay remained composed under pressure. With several athletes improving their marks during the final, he responded with his own record-breaking throw to move into silver-medal position and secure one of the biggest achievements of his career.

His silver medal also contributed to India’s highly successful campaign at the U20 Asian Athletics Championships, where the country finished second on the overall medal table. More importantly, the 60.10m effort establishes a new benchmark for Indian U20 discus throwing and demonstrates that Nishchay has the potential to compete with the best young athletes in Asia.

Nishchay wins silver medal and sets Indian U20 discus national record with 60.10m at Asian U20 Athletics Championships 2026

U20 Asian Athletics Championships 2026 | Hong Kong, China

In 2012, Sahana Kumari cleared 1.92 metres and set an Indian national record that nobody could touch for fourteen years.

Yesterday, the athlete who broke it was five years old when it was set.

And Sahana was standing right there when it happened — not as a competitor watching her record fall, but as a coach, having helped prepare the very athlete who surpassed her.

Indian athletics has produced remarkable stories this season. None of them come close to this one.

A Record Built to Last — and Someone to Break It

National records in field events are not meant to fall easily. Sahana Kumari’s 1.92m stood for over a decade, surviving a generation of Indian high jumpers who came, improved, and still couldn’t reach it. It was the kind of mark that began to feel permanent — a ceiling that defined the limits of what Indian women’s high jump could achieve.

Then came Pooja. Born in an era when Sahana’s record was already years old, she grew up in Indian athletics with that 1.92m as the mountain at the top of every training plan. She cleared 1.91m first — breaking her own U20 national record and moving to India’s all-time No. 2. Then, on her very next attempt, she cleared 1.93m and the fourteen-year record was gone.

The Coach Who Handed Over the Crown

What transforms this from a great sporting story into something truly rare is Sahana’s role in it. She travelled to Hong Kong as part of India’s coaching staff — present not to compete, but to guide. To support. To share everything she learned from a career that produced that very record with the athlete now standing on the runway beneath it.

When the bar was set at 1.93m and Pooja cleared it, Sahana was among the first people she looked to. The picture from Hong Kong captures it perfectly — the former record holder standing beside the new one, wearing a smile as wide as Pooja’s own. There is no trace of the bittersweet. Only pride.

That is not something that can be manufactured or scripted. It is the authentic expression of someone who understands that sport is not about preserving your place in history — it is about making the history worth preserving.

Five Years Old When the Record Was Set

The number that reframes everything: Pooja was five years old in 2012 when Sahana cleared 1.92m. She did not watch that jump as a rival or a peer. She was a child. She grew up with Sahana’s record as simply the way things were — the high watermark of Indian women’s high jump, a number that seemed impossibly large.

Now she has surpassed it. And the woman who set it coached her to do so.

Fourteen years. Two generations. One bar. One perfect moment in Hong Kong.

What Sport Is For

Athletics is often told as a story of individual achievement — a single athlete, a single moment, a single mark in the record books. But the greatest stories are the ones where the thread runs between people, across time, connecting those who came before with those who come next.

Sahana Kumari built something in 2012. She did not abandon it when she moved into coaching. She carried it with her, and eventually handed it to a 19-year-old in Hong Kong who was ready to take it somewhere new.

The record is Pooja’s now. The legacy belongs to both of them.

The U20 Asian Athletics Championships 2026 are being held in Hong Kong, China.

India’s rising throwing talent Amanat Kamboj delivered a composed and confident performance to clinch gold in the women’s discus throw at the U20 Asian Athletics Championships 2026, continuing India’s strong tradition in junior throwing events.

The young Indian thrower produced a best effort of 52.27m to finish on top of the podium ahead of China’s Chenyi Ma and Japan’s Koko Konda.

Final standings:
🥇 Amanat Kamboj (India) — 52.27m
🥈 Chenyi Ma (China) — 51.30m
🥉 Koko Konda (Japan) — 49.74m

For Amanat, the victory carried added significance.

At the previous edition of the U20 Asian Championships, she had narrowly missed out on gold and finished with silver. This time, she returned stronger and more assured, successfully upgrading that medal to the top step of the podium.

The result also underlines India’s growing depth in women’s throwing events, particularly at the junior level where athletes have increasingly started challenging traditional Asian powerhouses like China and Japan.

Amanat has been regarded as one of India’s promising young throwers for some time now. Hailing from Haryana — a state that continues to produce several of India’s best athletes in throwing disciplines — she has steadily progressed through the junior circuit over the last few seasons.

Her development has been marked by consistency rather than sudden breakthroughs.

Over the past year, Amanat has regularly featured among the leading junior discus throwers in India, showing improvement in both technique and competition temperament. Coaches have particularly praised her ability to remain calm during pressure situations, something she demonstrated once again in the final.

The winning mark of 52.27m may not yet place her among the very elite senior throwers globally, but at the U20 level it signals strong long-term potential.

Importantly, the gold medal also continues a broader positive phase for Indian athletics at age-group continental competitions. India has increasingly begun using the U18 and U20 Asian Championships as a pipeline for future senior international athletes.

Several Indian stars — including Olympic and World Championships medallists — first made their mark at junior continental events before transitioning to the senior circuit.

For Amanat, the challenge now will be translating junior success into senior-level consistency.

The transition is rarely easy in throwing events, where improvements often become more technical and incremental at the elite level. But performances like this suggest India may already have another promising discus thrower emerging through the system.

And after returning from silver to finally capture gold, Amanat Kamboj has shown she is learning how to win when expectations arrive.

Amanat Kamboj winning women’s discus throw gold at the U20 Asian Athletics Championships 2026

U20 Asian Athletics Championships 2026 | Hong Kong, China

Days ago, she was sent back from an airport.

Today, she soared higher than any Indian woman in history.

In one of the most extraordinary and emotionally charged performances Indian athletics has ever produced, Pooja has shattered the Senior Women’s High Jump National Record at the U20 Asian Athletics Championships 2026 — clearing 1.93m to etch her name permanently into the history of Indian sport.

Let that sink in. A junior athlete, at a junior championship, has just set the all-time Indian women’s high jump record.

Two Records. Two Attempts. One Evening.

The sequence of what unfolded in Hong Kong is almost too dramatic to believe.

First, Pooja cleared 1.91m — improving her own U20 National Record and moving to India’s all-time No. 2 in the event. It was already a landmark performance, the kind that would have been the headline of any other athlete’s career.

Then she stepped back onto the runway and went again.

1.93m. Clean. Cleared. The bar stayed on its pegs. India had a new Senior Women’s High Jump National Record — one that had stood since Sahana Kumari’s 1.92m in 2012, a mark that endured for over a decade. Pooja didn’t just reach it. She went beyond it.

In the space of two consecutive attempts, she broke the U20 national record, claimed the all-time No. 2 position, then immediately rendered that ranking obsolete by breaking the senior national record.

The Record in Context

Sahana Kumari’s 1.92m had stood for more than thirteen years. National records in field events, especially those set at elite international meets, have a way of lasting. They demand not just talent but the perfect convergence of form, conditions, competition, and courage.

Pooja produced all four in Hong Kong. At a junior championships. As a U20 athlete. The youngest holder of India’s all-time women’s high jump record.

Her 1.93m also cleared the Commonwealth Games 2026 qualification mark of 1.92m — meaning that alongside the history, she has booked her place at the Commonwealth Games in the most emphatic fashion imaginable.

The Airport That Almost Stopped History

The context of this performance makes it all the more staggering. Just days ago, Pooja was among the 23 members of India’s contingent whose visa applications were marked “Unsuccessful” — and who were turned back from the airport on the eve of the championships. The reigning Asian High Jump champion faced the very real possibility of missing the competition entirely through an administrative failure entirely outside her control.

She got through. She got to Hong Kong. And then she cleared every bar that was put in front of her.

Whatever frustration, anxiety, or disruption that visa ordeal caused, Pooja channelled none of it into hesitation. She channelled all of it into the runway.

India’s New High Jump Queen

Pooja entered this championships as the reigning Asian High Jump champion. She leaves it as the greatest female high jumper in Indian history — the first to clear 1.93m, the current national record holder at both U20 and senior level, a Commonwealth Games qualifier, and the athlete who proved that a bureaucratic nightmare at an airport was nothing more than a minor inconvenience on the way to something historic.

India’s women’s high jump national record stood for thirteen years. It fell tonight.

It fell to a junior.

The U20 Asian Athletics Championships 2026 are being held in Hong Kong, China.