Ancy Sojan Won Silver. Why Were We Looking at Her Jewelry?

Go Girl, Go! Cheers to Ancy Sojan!

Go girl, go! Cheers!

What a sight she is!

Ancy Sojan is a strong woman, an epitome of confidence and calibre. More importantly, she has swagger. Whoo! She is oozing with confidence. Just the sight of her would make you feel pumped.

I think you have to be strong to dress up, carry yourself confidently, and show a strong face on a big day, especially when the whole world is watching you.

She braved the odds and a slippery field to win silver, with gold slipping away from her by just 2 cm. She has won many accolades in the past too, and she even surpassed Anju Bobby George’s record, a great achievement and something we had longed to see for quite some time.

And this is how we treat a legend?

People have a strange habit of focusing on the negative.

Even when someone achieves something remarkable, instead of appreciating the achievement, we look for something to criticize.

Ancy Sojan is a perfect example of why we need to change this mindset.

I think you have to be strong to dress up, carry yourself confidently, and show a strong face on a big day, especially when the whole world is watching you.

Whoo! She is oozing with confidence. Just the sight of her can make you feel pumped.

Rarely do you get to see a woman carrying herself with so much confidence and such animation in her expressions. That is what I see in this young athlete from Kerala, a South Indian state.

But, as expected, just because she had makeup, jewelry, ornaments, colorful hair accessories and her own style, she became a target of trolling.

The internet was busy talking about her braid. I wished to see legends come and support her. maybe I’m not aware of any.

She braved the odds and a slippery field to win silver, with gold slipping away from her by just 2 cm. She even surpassed Anju Bobby George’s record, a remarkable achievement and something we had been waiting to see for quite some time.

She has won many accolades in the past too, and this is how we choose to treat a legend. Instead of celebrating everything she has achieved, we find something to criticize.

It is a shame.

It is a shame.

It is a shame.

A star who should have been celebrated for bringing a silver medal home was instead trolled for her hair and jewelry.

She had just won a silver medal at the Asian Games. She had represented her country and brought laurels to India. Yet, instead of talking about her performance, people chose to talk about her appearance.

Some even went to the extent of suggesting that her jewelry and appearance were the reason she missed gold.

Seriously?

Now I would say this happened because she is a woman.

Had it been a male athlete who was expressive about his appearance and grooming, would anyone have questioned him in the same way?

Let me give you an example.

Neeraj Chopra, the pride of India, has a visible and stylish outlook. His long hair became part of his identity. He has also been seen wearing accessories such as bracelets and necklaces.

When he did not win gold, did we see the same kind of discussion blaming his hair or accessories for his performance?

No.

The focus remained on the sport.

Why is it so difficult to do the same for a woman?

These people who commented on Ancy’s jewelry seem to have completely missed the point. She was there to compete. She jumped. She gave everything she had.

And she won a silver medal for India.

Instead of applauding that achievement, they decided to sit behind their screens and comment on her appearance.

This is not about jewelry.

This is about a mindset.

The patriarchal thinking that is deeply rooted in Indian society still makes women feel that they are constantly being watched and judged. Even today, women are often objectified and treated as objects of fun and entertainment rather than as human beings who deserve the same respect and status.

This is also a reflection of the sexism that still exists in Indian sports. Women athletes are often judged not only by their performance but also by their appearance, clothing, hair, and choices. Ancy Sojan’s experience shows how easily a woman’s achievement can be overshadowed when people choose to scrutinize how she looks instead of what she has accomplished.

And this is not new. Sania Mirza has spoken openly about how women athletes are judged differently from men. She was repeatedly asked about marriage, motherhood, and when she would “settle down,” despite being a world-class athlete. She herself pointed out that a man would rarely face the same questions.

Years later, the questions may have changed, but the mindset has not. Ancy is being judged for her jewelry and appearance instead of being celebrated for what she has achieved on the field.

Ancy had every reason to be applauded for her stellar performance.

Instead, some people resorted to saying that she lost because of her jewelry.

Isn’t that a shame?

Think about the impact this kind of trolling can have on other women athletes.

What message are we sending them?

That if you want to represent your country, you should first make sure you look the way society expects you to look?

That you cannot wear jewelry?

That you cannot wear makeup?

That you cannot style your hair the way you like?

That you have to give up your individuality to prove that you are serious about your sport?

No.

A real sports lover would have noticed the jump, not the jewelry.

That jump of confidence. That determination. That performance.

That is what we should have been talking about.

The most satisfying thing is that Ancy herself seems unperturbed by all the clamour around her jewelry and appearance. She is enjoying the moment and basking in the glory that she deserves.

Her expressions are genuine. So is her outward presentation.

And why shouldn’t they be?

Each one of us has our own tastes and preferences. We may like them or dislike them. That is completely fine.

But we don’t get to judge someone simply because they represent our country.

If someone is representing India, let us appreciate what they have achieved.

Let us accept the person as she is.

A person is incomplete without her tastes, preferences, personality and individuality. You cannot separate a person from the things that make her who she is.

And perhaps this is what we need to learn from Ancy Sojan.

Stop looking for something negative.

Stop searching for something to criticize.

Sometimes, just celebrate.

Celebrate the athlete.

Celebrate the woman.

Celebrate the confidence.

And above all, celebrate the achievement.