Missing a medal, finding new belief: the story of triple jumper Asha Ilango

Asha Ilango, a triple jumper, narrowly missed out on a bronze medal at the Asian Games, finishing tied with China's Li Yi at 13.83m. However, she gained something far more valuable: the trust of her family and renewed self-belief after a year of doubting her future in the sport following an ankle injury. Asha, who had been competing in triple jump for a decade, struggled to surpass the 13m mark and contemplated retiring after hearing suggestions from her family and a lack of resources for training.

A friend encouraged her to give one more year to training under new coach Nalvin Raja. After seven months of specialized coaching, Asha improved her personal best to 13.52m and then to 13.57m. Her breakthrough moment came at the Inter-State National Championships in Bhubaneswar, where she jumped 13.89m, setting the third-best Indian record and securing her spot for the Asian Games.

The Asian Games allowed Asha to experience the environment she had only seen on TV, giving her the confidence to jump higher. Despite missing a medal, the Games have given her a new boost in her career. Her coach attributes her renewed focus to her mindset, which remains elite even when her jumps are not at their best. As she concludes her 2026 season, Asha is close to breaking the national record and has set her sights on a national record next year.