Safar Champions Ka takes us into the journey of our athlete Ancy Sojan, a long jumper whose story is defined by resilience, family sacrifices and the belief that circumstances do not have to define how far an athlete can go.
There was a time when Ancy had almost walked away from sport. After a phase of demotivation, she almost quit, making her eventual qualification for the Asian Games and Commonwealth Games an emotional turning point.
“The moment I qualified for Asian Games and Commonwealth in that year, my eyes were filled up because I was very demotivated. I had almost quit the sport,” Ancy recalls.
Her journey has also been shaped by the sacrifices of her family. The daughter of an autorickshaw driver, Ancy grew up seeing her father work hard to support her sporting ambitions. She remembers how people questioned how far the daughter of an autorickshaw driver could go.
“My father is a rickshaw driver. People said this auto rickshaw driver's daughter, where can she reach? Now I have the answer for them also,” she says.
Her father’s support extended far beyond encouragement. He accompanied her to competitions and made sure she had everything she needed, from food and clothing, to spikes, despite the financial challenges involved in pursuing sport.
“I know the sport required lots of money because every competition my father accompanied me. The food, clothing, spikes, everything he took care of... Whatever he could do, that much he did for his daughter,” Ancy says.
Her parents, both of whom were active in sport, never dictated what she should become. Instead, they gave her the freedom to choose her own path. For Ancy, that support became an important foundation as she began chasing her dream of representing India.
That dream took shape early. Ancy remembers watching Usain Bolt compete at the Olympics with her father and imagining a similar moment for herself. “Father, one day we are also going to represent India like this,” she recalls.
Her journey has also been strengthened by the people and systems supporting her as an athlete. Sojan, her father, who has been part of Ancy’s journey, highlights the importance of the backing she receives from Reliance Foundation.
“When Reliance Foundation approached me for Ancy, I was very happy because I knew that Reliance Foundation can give the best facilities to the athletes,” Sojan says.
He adds, “I know Reliance Foundation supports athletes very well. If any injury happens or if we fail, they will stand with the athlete. They have great trust in their athletes.”
For Ancy, that support has translated into access to infrastructure, nutritional support and sporting equipment, allowing her to focus on what lies ahead.
She is now looking beyond qualification and medals, with an ambitious target in sight. Referring to the 6.91m Asian Games record, Ancy says, “6.91 is the Asian Games record, so let's grab that also.”
Her immediate ambition is to produce a 7m jump and take another step towards rewriting her own limits.
“It's time to make history and record new performances,” she says.
From the daughter of an autorickshaw driver who once faced questions about how far she could go, Ancy Sojan’s journey has become an answer in itself. With her family’s sacrifices, her team’s belief and the support around her, she continues to chase a bigger jump and a place in history.