Indian athletics witnessed a historic day at the National Inter-State Athletics Championships in Bhubaneswar when two long-standing national records were broken. Kerala’s Ancy Sojan produced a stunning performance in the women’s long jump, breaking a record that stood for more than two decades and was held by one of India’s greatest athletes, Anja Bobby George.Ancy, 25, cleared 6.88m to set a new national record, bettering Anja Bobby George’s previous mark of 6.83m, achieved during the 2004 Athens Olympic season. Her achievement marks a significant milestone in Indian athletics and signals the arrival of a new benchmark in the event.Ancy’s record-breaking effort was the highlight of the day at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar, where the National Inter-State Championship is being held from June 24-28. The jump by the Kerala athlete ended Anju Bobby George’s 22-year reign as the national record holder in women’s long jump.This performance also strengthens Ancy’s credentials as one of India’s leading female athletes ahead of the upcoming international competitions.The championships also witnessed the fall of another national record in the men’s high jump event. Sarvesh Kushara cleared 2.31 meters to establish a new national mark, surpassing Tejaswin Shankar’s previous record of 2.29 meters.Several athletes also secured qualification spots for the upcoming Asian Games with their performances in Bhubaneswar. They include pole vaulter Dev Meena, women’s 100m hurdler Jyothi Yarraji, hammer thrower Anushka Yadav and middle distance runner Mohammed Afsal.
