Healthy rivalry between two leading women long jumpers—Shaili Singh and Ancy Sojan brings out best on the given day.
A tale of two leading Indian women long jumpers. They train under different coaching systems. Have different family background. Shaili Singh of Uttar Pradesh and Ancy Sojan from Kerala are fierce competitors at the jumping arena but good friends off the field.
It is heartening to see both the athletes cheering other competitors during the event. Healthy and intense competition between the two “lights up” the jumping arena.
On Friday evening at Ranchi’s Birsa Munda Stadium, Ancy Sojan raced to victory in the women’s long jump with a distance of 6.75m, a season and personal best. Ancy also bettered the meet record of 6.64m set by Shaili Singh last year in Kochi.
Shaili Singh training at Anju Bobby George Academy in Bengaluru finished second with a jump of 6.58m in Ranchi. Bhavani Yadav of NCOE Bengaluru was third with a jump of 6.39m.
The four-day National Senior Athletics Federation Competition in Ranchi is also selection trials for Glasgow Commonwealth Games.
The Commonwealth Games qualification mark in women’s long jump was 6.84m.
EOM
