Kerala long jumper Ancy Sojan clears Asian Games qualification mark at Indian GP

Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala long jumper Ancy Sojan cleared the Asian Games qualifying mark with an impressive 6.49m in the Indian Grand Prix-1 at LNCPE here on Monday.

However, the 22-year-old has not been assured of a berth in the Asian Games to be held at Hangzhou in China in September-October this year.

According to Radhakrishnan Nair, chief coach of the Athletics Federation of India, athletes will have to meet the respective qualifying marks at the final selection trials to be held at Ranchi between July 25 and 29.

"She has qualified, but she must repeat this or better it or finish in the top two in the final selection trials to go to the Asian Games," Radhakrishnan Nair told Onmanorama.

The qualification standard set by the AFI for women's long jump is 6.45m. Ancy's personal best is 6.55m, which she had set in 2022.

Meanwhile, Kerala's Sandra Babu finished second in the event with an effort of 5.93m while Tamil Nadu's R Punitha was placed third with 5.91m.