A new force is rising in Indian track and field. With a leap of 6.64 meters, a 21-year-old talent from Jhansi shattered a long-standing national record.
Her performance in the long jump at the Federation Cup wasn’t just a win. It was a statement after a challenging nine-month injury layoff. She announced her return with power and precision.
This athlete’s journey began with barefoot training in Uttar Pradesh. It has led to international podiums, including a silver medal at the 2021 World Under-20 Championships.
Her personal best of 6.76m places her among the world’s elite young competitors. It signals a promising new chapter for Indian athletics.
Early Life and Humble Beginnings
Before podiums and records, there was a small tailoring business and a determined single mother in Uttar Pradesh. Vinita Singh raised three children alone in Jhansi. Her modest income made basic athletic gear a distant dream.
Growing Up in Jhansi and Uttar Pradesh
This environment shaped a resilient character. The young athlete watched boys race at her school. She thought, “If they can, why can’t I?” That mindset became her driving force.
She started running barefoot. Blistered feet were a regular outcome. Her mother would see the marks and weep, but never asked her to stop.
Overcoming Early Challenges Without Proper Gear
Vinita Singh saw potential where others saw limitation. She directed her daughter toward opportunity. She told Shaili to attend selection trials in Lucknow.
That decision changed everything. Success at the trials led to a spot in a sports hostel. It was the first step toward formal training.
| Challenge | Context | Turning Point |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of Equipment | Family could not afford running shoes; trained barefoot. | Mother’s encouragement to pursue sports despite hardship. |
| Financial Pressure | Single-parent household supported by a tailoring business. | Decision to attend selection trials in Lucknow. |
| Limited Access | No formal training facilities in early years. | Acceptance into a sports hostel for structured coaching. |
These early years in Uttar Pradesh built a foundation of grit. That resilience would later prove essential on the world stage.
Rise Through National Competitions
The national stage became her proving ground. Raw talent transformed into measurable results. Her performances at key meets built a reputation for consistency and power.
Breaking Records at Junior Nationals
In 2018, she announced her arrival. At the junior national athletics championships in Ranchi, she shattered the Under-16 long jump record. A leap of 5.94m secured the gold medal.
She improved her mark one year later in Guntur. At just 15, she jumped 6.15m. This effort created a new Under-18 national record and confirmed her upward trajectory.
Early Recognition at National Championships
Her senior national debut arrived in June 2021. Most 17-year-olds still compete at junior levels. Singh immediately claimed gold with a 6.48m jump.
She reinforced her status four months later. At the National Open Athletics Championships, another gold medal followed. A 6.41m effort made her impossible to ignore.
This progression from 5.94m to 6.48m in three years showed more than physical growth. It reflected rapid technical refinement and competitive maturity.
Shaili Singh’s Breakthrough in Long Jump Technique
The transformation from raw talent to technical prowess began with a single, discerning glance from a champion. At a 2017 junior meet, Robert Bobby George saw past a complete lack of form. He recognized a rare combination of raw speed and a relentless competitive fire.
Technical Adjustments on the Runway
Anju Bobby George was equally candid about the athlete’s starting point. She noted Singh “had no technique” initially. What stood out was her intensity, which never faded from her first attempt to her last.
The Anju Bobby George Sports Foundation brought the young athlete to Bengaluru for systematic training. For two years, a flawed runway approach limited her potential. She couldn’t effectively translate her speed into distance.
Anju Bobby George, drawing from her own world-class experience, began a granular overhaul. She focused on the first step, body control, and breathing patterns. Bobby George worked alongside her, refining arm action and other minute details.
These adjustments, measured in centimeters, now translate into meters on the jump board. The athlete acknowledges her technique is a work in progress. But the results—shattered records and cleared standards—speak for the effectiveness of the changes.
Battling Injuries and Overcoming Setbacks
Injury struck at the worst possible moment, threatening to undo years of progress. The athlete vanished from competition for nine long months, sidelined by a debilitating combination of hip flexor issues and chronic ankle pain.
Dealing with a Career-Threatening Injury
Her hip responded to rehabilitation by July 2024. But the ankle refused to heal. This persistent problem had actually bothered her for two years before finally forcing complete rest.
She turned to science for solutions. In late 2024, she underwent PRP treatment. This procedure injects concentrated platelets to accelerate healing where rest alone failed.
Adopting a Strict Diet and Rehabilitation Strategy
During those quiet months, Shaili Singh confronted hard truths about discipline. She realized favorite foods like aloo paratha and ice cream left her feeling bloated and compromised performance.
Learning she was gluten and lactose intolerant explained why certain foods drained her energy. At 21, controlling cravings required willpower most people her age don’t possess.
Her new regimen centers on rice-dal and ragi-jowar flour with steamed preparations. These lighter meals keep her feeling ready to train rather than weighed down.
She taught herself to cook at the Bengaluru academy, finding comfort in preparing food when mess offerings didn’t satisfy. This dietary journey mirrored her athletic path toward self-reliance.
Pivotal Performances in Recent Competitions
Breaking a 23-year-old record required more than just physical preparation—it demanded mental fortitude. The athlete’s return to competition after a lengthy absence showcased both technical refinement and psychological resilience.
Record-Breaking Jump at the Federation Cup
At the 2025 Federation Cup in Ernakulam, she erased any doubts about her post-injury capabilities. Her first attempt back produced a stunning 6.64-meter leap. This performance shattered a meet record that had stood since 2002.
The significance went beyond the numbers. She broke the record of her own mentor, Anju Bobby George. The 6.59-meter mark had survived 23 years of competition attempts.
This Federation Cup achievement confirmed months of rehabilitation had paid off. Dietary discipline and technical adjustments translated directly into measurable improvement on the track.
| Competition | Distance | Significance | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Federation Cup | 6.64m | Broke 23-year meet record | First competition after 9-month break |
| Indian Open | 6.45m | Qualified for Asian Championships | Follow-up performance |
| Personal Standard | 6.50m+ | Self-set benchmark | Ongoing target |
Shaili Singh followed this with a 6.45-meter effort at the Indian Open. She views this mark as a confidence booster rather than a final destination. Her internal standard remains firmly above the 6.50-meter threshold.
Qualification for the Asian Athletics Championships
The ticket to South Korea was punched with a single, confident leap in Chennai. On April 15, 2025, the athlete returned to competition with immediate impact at the Indian Open.
Securing a Spot with a 6.45m Jump
Her 6.45-meter effort cleared the qualification standard by four centimeters. This performance earned gold and confirmed her place at the continental championship.
The Asian Athletics Championships in Gumi will run from May 27-31. Singh expressed being “extremely elated” to breach the mark so early in the season.
This builds on her silver medal performance from Bangkok 2023. There, she jumped 6.54m but finished behind Japan’s Sumire Hata’s 6.97m.
Having also placed fifth in an earlier appearance, the athlete now targets the podium with specific intent. She carries technical improvements and renewed confidence into the upcoming Asian Athletics Championships.
Mentorship and Training Under Anju Bobby George
In Bengaluru, a unique partnership is forging the future of Indian long jump. The athlete found her technical home at the academy run by Anju Bobby George and Robert Bobby George. This environment provided the structure missing from her early barefoot runs.
The Role of Expert Guidance and Coaching
Anju Bobby George brought a rare perspective as India’s only World Championships medalist in athletics. Her bronze from 2003 and fifth-place finish at the Athens 2004 Olympics gave her immediate authority. She and Bobby George spotted raw potential in 2017, seeing past a complete lack of form.
Their guidance extends far beyond the runway. It encompasses diet, discipline, and mental approach. This comprehensive package is essential for competing at the Olympic level.
Enhancing Technique and Confidence
Anju Bobby George worked meticulously on the athlete’s technique. She refined the first step, body control, and breathing patterns. Bobby George focused on the physics of the jump, adjusting arm action and the takeoff.
These detailed corrections, measured in centimeters, now translate into meters on the board. The recent breaking of Anju Bobby George’s own Federation Cup record was a powerful moment. It validated the methods and symbolized a smooth transfer of legacy in Indian sports.
Shaili Singh’s International Journey and Aspirations
International competition taught her the brutal mathematics of elite athletics. A single centimeter decided her first world-level final in Nairobi.
Silver Medals and Close Battles on the Global Stage
At the 2021 World Athletics Under-20 Championships, the young long jumper claimed silver with a 6.59m effort. Sweden’s Maja Askag won gold by just one centimeter.
This pattern continued at senior level Asian Athletics Championships. In Bangkok 2023, she earned another silver medal with a 6.54m jump.
Her personal best of 6.76m came weeks earlier at the Indian Grand Prix. That gold-medal performance placed her within seven centimeters of the national record.
Ambitions for the 2028 LA Olympic Games
These international results fuel a specific ambition. She aims to become the first Indian woman to win an Olympic medal in athletics.
Her focus has shifted entirely to the 2028 Los Angeles Games. She acknowledges she wasn’t ready for the previous Olympic cycle.
“I won’t surrender this time,” she told Sportstar. “Not even to the slightest tiny mistake.”
This journey through world and Asian athletics has defined her goals. It’s about more than medals—it’s about recognition for Indian women in sport.
Final Reflections on a Rising Star’s Promising Future
With each measured leap, this long jumper carries the hopes of countless young girls who see their own potential in her trajectory. Her personal best of 6.76m already competes at Olympic-level distances, proving she belongs among the world’s elite.
The journey from barefoot training to breaking records shows what happens when raw talent meets expert coaching. Shaili Singh acknowledges that many village athletes still lack access to proper facilities and support.
Her healthy rivalry with fellow competitor Nayana James pushes both women to perform better while maintaining friendship off the track. This dynamic reflects the growing strength of Indian athletics.
All eyes now turn to upcoming athletics championships as she builds toward the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. If she achieves her goal of becoming India’s first female Olympic medalist in athletics, she’ll complete a journey that inspires generations to come.
