'It was just not my day': Ancy Sojan reflects on Asian Games silver
Ancy Sojan discusses her silver medal win in long jump at the Asian Games, overcoming fatigue and muscle stiffness to secure the podium spot.
Indian long jumper Ancy Sojan has expressed a mix of pride and reflection following her silver medal win at the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. While securing a spot on the podium, the athlete admitted that the performance was not her absolute best due to significant physical challenges during the competition.
Overcoming physical struggles
Competing under intense pressure, Sojan revealed that she had to battle through severe physical discomfort to secure her place in the finals. She reported feeling significant fatigue, muscle stiffness, and even numbness during her jumps.
"I feel proud. I got silver a second time... today, it was just not my day," Sojan told ANI. "I put in my 100% effort, but fate is settled with silver... I felt tired and had muscle fatigue, stiffness and numbness also."
A narrow miss for gold
The competition was incredibly tight, with Sojan missing out on the top spot by a mere two centimetres. The podium was dominated by Chinese athletes:
- Gold: Huang Yingying (China) with 6.55m
- Silver: Ancy Sojan (India)
- Bronze: Tan Mengyi (China) with 6.46m
India's Shaili Singh finished just outside the medals in fourth place with a best effort of 6.42m.
Learning from the experience
Rather than focusing on the missed gold, Sojan is looking toward the future. She views this achievement as a vital stepping stone for her career, noting that every medal provides essential lessons for her development as an athlete.
"Each and every medal and success is making me more experienced and teaching me lessons... next time I can improve more," she said. She further dedicated the silver medal to herself and the supporters who have encouraged her throughout her sporting journey.
India's medal tally update
Sojan's silver was part of a significant seven-medal haul for India on Sunday, which included two silver medals in squash and five medals in athletics. Despite this surge, India's overall position in the standings saw a slight decline.
India concluded Day 8 of the 2026 Asian Games with a total of 37 medals (4 gold, 16 silver, and 17 bronze). Due to other nations securing more gold medals, India slipped from 10th to 12th position in the overall medal standings.