CM Yogi hails Ancy Sojan, Tejaswin's Asian Games medals
Synopsis
Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath congratulated Ancy Sojan Edappilly and Tejaswin Shankar on winning silver and bronze respectively in athletics at the Asian Games 2026, praising their performances as additions to India's growing medal tally.
Key Takeaways
Ancy Sojan Edappilly won the silver medal in the Women's Long Jump at the Asian Games 2026 .
Tejaswin Shankar secured the bronze medal in the Men's Decathlon at the same Games.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath congratulated both athletes on 27 September 2026 via X.
India's Target Olympic Podium Scheme , active since 2014 , supports elite athletes across disciplines including athletics.
The twin medals continue India's pattern of incremental athletics gains at successive Asian Games editions.
India's athletics campaign at the Asian Games 2026 delivered two standout moments on Sunday, 27 September — a silver in the Women's Long Jump and a bronze in the Men's Decathlon — and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath was quick to salute both performances on X, calling them 'remarkable' contributions to the nation's medal tally.
Ancy Sojan clears the bar in Women's Long Jump
Ancy Sojan Edappilly claimed the silver medal in the Women's Long Jump, adding her name to a growing list of Indian field athletes who have broken through on the continental stage. A specialist long jumper who has represented India across national and international circuits, Ancy's podium finish marks one of the more coveted individual medals in track-and-field — a discipline where Asian competition is fierce and centimetres decide careers.
Tejaswin Shankar's decathlon bronze — ten events, one medal
Tejaswin Shankar secured the bronze medal in the Men's Decathlon, a gruelling ten-discipline test spread across two days. Shankar, who has long been one of India's most versatile multi-event athletes, has previously competed in high jump on the international stage before turning his focus to the decathlon. A podium in one of athletics' most demanding formats underlines the depth beginning to emerge in Indian field sports beyond the sprint lanes.
India's steady rise in Asian Games athletics
The two medals fit a broader pattern: India has recorded incremental gains in athletics at successive Asian Games editions, moving from isolated one-off performances to a more consistent podium presence. The Union government's Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS), running since 2014 under the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, has channelled support toward elite athletes in disciplines including athletics — and the returns, medal by medal, are becoming visible. Public recognition from state chief ministers like CM Yogi is itself part of a wider shift in how non-cricket sports are being mainstreamed in Indian public life.
With the Asian Games 2026 still under way, the athletics programme may yet yield more results for India. For now, two athletes — one from the runway, one from the all-round arena — have made their country stop and take note. Jai Hind.
Point of View
His public salutation reinforces the party's broader strategy of associating itself with India's non-cricket sporting rise. The shoutout to two niche-discipline athletes — a long jumper and a decathlete — signals an awareness that medals increasingly come from beyond the familiar sprint track. It also sits within a decade-long arc of state-level leaders amplifying the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports' elite-athlete investment, lending grassroots visibility to what might otherwise be insider sporting news. Whether the political attention translates to durable infrastructure support for athletics in Uttar Pradesh is the more consequential question.
NationPress
27 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Ancy Sojan Edappilly?
Ancy Sojan Edappilly is an Indian long jumper who has represented the country in national and international athletics competitions. She won the silver medal in the Women's Long Jump at the Asian Games 2026.
What medal did Tejaswin Shankar win at Asian Games 2026?
Tejaswin Shankar won the bronze medal in the Men's Decathlon at the Asian Games 2026, competing across ten disciplines over the two-day event.
What is the Asian Games 2026?
The Asian Games is a continental multi-sport event organised every four years by the Olympic Council of Asia, bringing together athletes from across the continent.
What is India's Target Olympic Podium Scheme?
The Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) is a Union government programme launched in 2014 under the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports to provide financial and logistical support to elite Indian athletes in targeted disciplines, including athletics.
Why did CM Yogi Adityanath congratulate Ancy Sojan and Tejaswin Shankar?
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath posted on X on 27 September 2026 to congratulate both athletes on their Asian Games 2026 medals, calling their performances remarkable contributions to India's medal tally.
