After rewriting history with a stunning jump of 6.64m at the Federation Cup, long jumper Shaili Singh said her record-breaking performance is only the start of her journey.

The 21-year-old shattered the 23-year-old record set by her coach and legendary athlete Anju Bobby George at the National Federation Cup Athletics held at Maharaja’s College Ground in Ernakulam. Shaili surpassed Anju’s 2002 mark of 6.59m with her impressive leap.

“Breaking Anju ma’am’s long-standing Federation Cup record is a moment of pride for me. Her achievements have always been my inspiration, and to follow in her footsteps means everything. This record has stood for 23 years because of how exceptional she was, and I’m honoured to now be part of this legacy. This is just the beginning of my journey, and I hope to continue making my country proud with many more milestones,” Shaili said.

Veteran Anju Bobby George congratulated her protégé, praising Shaili’s achievement as a symbol of the promising future of Indian women in sports.

“Records are meant to be broken, and I’m thrilled to see Shaili accomplish this feat. When we first spotted her talent years ago, I knew she had what it takes to surpass even my best marks. Watching her grow has been like witnessing the next chapter of Indian athletics unfold. I couldn’t be prouder to pass the torch to someone so dedicated and gifted,” Anju said.

Adding to her triumph, Shaili has also been named in India’s 56-member squad for the upcoming Asian Athletics Championships, scheduled to take place from May 27 to 31 in Gumi, South Korea.             

(With IANS inputs)