Tharoor hails Ancy Sojan's Asian Games silver in long jump
Synopsis
Congress MP Dr. Shashi Tharoor celebrated long jumper Ancy Sojan's Asian Games silver medal on 27 September 2026, recounting how he and Kerala Sports Minister Janeesh learned the news during the India vs West Indies ODI in Thiruvananthapuram and personally called Ancy's father to congratulate him.
Key Takeaways
Ancy Sojan won a silver medal in long jump at the Asian Games on 27 September 2026 .
Shashi Tharoor and Kerala Sports Minister Janeesh were together watching the India vs West Indies ODI in Thiruvananthapuram when the news broke.
The two leaders called Ancy Sojan's father directly to convey their congratulations.
Tharoor described the achievement as part of a broader pattern of Kerala athletes making the nation proud at these Games.
Thiruvananthapuram was simultaneously hosting a high-profile international cricket fixture, reflecting the city's growing stature as a multi-sport venue.
A silver medal landed in Kerala's lap on Sunday, 27 September 2026, and Congress MP Dr. Shashi Tharoor was watching cricket when the news arrived — making the moment doubly celebratory. Tharoor took to X to congratulate Ancy Sojan, describing the long jumper as 'Kerala's daughter' after her Asian Games silver medal performance.
The Thiruvananthapuram MP recounted a vivid scene: he and Kerala Sports Minister Janeesh were together at the first India vs West Indies ODI in Thiruvananthapuram when word of Ancy's medal came through. The two were able to call Ancy Sojan's father directly to pass on their congratulations — a personal touch that underscored both the pride and the immediacy of the moment.Ancy Sojan's leap onto the Asian Games podium
Ancy Sojan secured silver in the long jump at the Asian Games, adding to Kerala's growing reputation as one of India's most consistent producers of track-and-field talent. The state has long maintained active sports development programmes, and its athletes have repeatedly punched above their weight at continental and international competitions. Tharoor noted that 'Kerala's athletes have made the nation proud in these Games' — a signal that Sunday's silver was not an isolated moment but part of a broader Kerala surge at the tournament.
Cricket, a phone call, and a silver moment in Thiruvananthapuram
The setting added colour to the congratulations: Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala's capital, was simultaneously hosting an India vs West Indies ODI — one of the city's routine roles as a venue for high-profile national cricket fixtures. That both a serving MP and the state's Sports Minister were present in the same room watching the match, only to be interrupted by news of an Asian Games medal, captures how tightly sport is woven into Kerala's political and public life. The direct call to Ancy's father gave the moment a human scale beyond the official.
Kerala's track record at the Asian Games
India has participated in the Asian Games since 1951 and has steadily expanded its athletics contingent. Kerala, as a state, has contributed athletes across sprints, jumps, and field events over multiple Games cycles. The pattern of MPs and ministers publicly amplifying individual medals reflects a well-established tradition of political engagement with sporting success — and in this case, one grounded in genuine, real-time celebration rather than a post-facto press release.
Point of View
But it fits a consistent pattern of senior Congress leaders using sporting milestones to reinforce regional identity and grassroots connect — particularly valuable in a constituency like Thiruvananthapuram where state pride and national performance intersect. The detail of a direct call to Ancy's father, rather than a formal press statement, is a deliberate register choice: it positions the MP as personally invested rather than politically opportunistic. Kerala's continued production of elite track-and-field athletes also raises quiet questions about whether the state's sports budget and infrastructure model deserves wider national replication — a conversation that could gain traction in the next assembly session.
NationPress
28 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Shashi Tharoor say about Ancy Sojan's Asian Games medal?
Dr. Shashi Tharoor praised Ancy Sojan as 'Kerala's daughter' and shared that he and Kerala Sports Minister Janeesh personally called her father to congratulate the family after she won the silver medal in long jump.
Where was Shashi Tharoor when he heard about Ancy Sojan's medal?
Tharoor was in Thiruvananthapuram watching the first India vs West Indies ODI alongside Kerala Sports Minister Janeesh when news of the Asian Games silver medal came through.
How has Kerala performed at the Asian Games?
Kerala has consistently produced top track-and-field athletes for India's Asian Games contingent, with the state's active sports development programmes contributing to medals across multiple Games cycles.
When did Ancy Sojan win the Asian Games silver medal?
Ancy Sojan won the Asian Games silver medal in long jump on Sunday, 27 September 2026, as confirmed by Dr. Shashi Tharoor's post on X the same evening.
