The Indian contingent’s medal haul at the Asian Athletics Championships 2025 continued to swell on Thursday after they won six medals - three gold, two silver, and a bronze - despite wet and challenging conditions in Gumi, the Republic of Korea. The women’s long jump event saw two Indian athletes make the podium with Asian Games runners-up Ancy Sojan (6.33) bagging silver and the 2023 Asian Championships silver medallist Shaili Singh (6.30) winning bronze.
That completed Singh's return to action after a layoff.
Singh's comeback is a story in itself. More popular for years as an understudy to the legendary long jumper Anju Bobby George, Singh is back in action after a long absence due to injury and her return to the podium is all about self-belief and faith her coaches, the celebrated Anju Bobby George, the first Indian to win a medal in the World Championship, and Bobby George have had in her.
Singh has made a strong comeback after nine months away from competition. After her return, she broke her mentor Anju Bobby George's 23-year-old national record with a stunning leap of 6.64 m at the Federation Cup in April.
This is my first record at senior level and it is ma'am's record. Bobby Sir and Anju Ma'am wanted the record to be broken by their student and it happened to be me. I am really happy I could break the record. Both Bobby sir and I worked very hard to do so.
I have been injured a couple of times since 2021, and last year after the Asian Games, I also had a shoulder injury. It took me 3 to 4 months to recover from that injury. Then ahead of the Olympics, I got delayed in my build-up. I participated in 10-12 competitions before the Olympics I got injured then too and missed qualification very closely. This time we have decided that I would go all out -- either win or lose -- regardless of any pain. I will just go for it.
More importantly, Singh also targetted the Asian Athletics Championships and followed a well-laid-out preparation plan. She was determined to ace it at the Asian Athletics championships and she achieved it, though the colour of the metal could have been better.
I had finished second in the Junior World Championships in 2021. Then I came second in the previous edition of this competition. Since that, I have finished second twice. I wanted to finish first in this competition and hear the national anthem while on the podium.
But that did not happen in Gumi but Shaili is not disheartened.
I have been focusing on improving my run-up and jump. In between Bobby sir has also asked me to work on my core strength so that the body doesn’t feel weak and remains stable in terms of strength.
Asked about getting her mojo back and improving on her mentor Anju Bobby George's record, Singh said she didn't feel any pressure from the record.
Actually I didn’t take the pressure of breaking her record on my mind too much. Bobby sir told me he had faith in me that I could break the record and my body was working right. I was confident as Sir had faith in me so it would happen. I don’t feel pressure but feel blessed that I have to follow in her footsteps.
The long jumper said she has stopped thinking about the nine months she was injured and away from competitions. Positive in her thinking, Singh is happy to be free from injury and confident of doing better in the future as the monkey is off her back.
I feel quite free both physically and mentally. These nine months were difficult but I spent time with my family at home and then spent some time on track too. It was good. I am totally fit now and will attempt to give my best in whatever competitions I am competing in the future.
