Since you are born, you will have to achieve something: Aishwarya Babu

Aishwarya Babu matter-of-factly. Living by that maxim, she smashed the triple jump national record with a stunning effort of 14.14m at the National Inter-State Senior Athletics Championships on Monday, reflecting her determination to reach the top. This, after trying her luck in 100m and 200m sprints and overcoming an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury, a dreaded word in sporting circles.

The 24-year-old Aishwarya bettered Mayookha Johny's national record of 14.11m set in 2011. A day earlier, Aishwarya became the second best Indian woman long jumper after the legendary Anju Bobby George, with an effort of 6.73m. Anju Bobby George holds the national long jump record of 6.83m.

She started with 100m and 200m sprints before switching to long jump and triple jump, which is her main event. "I started at the age of eight and I was initially doing 100m and 200m. But later, switched to jumps.

I was interested in sports and my uncle was a decathlete," she said. Asked why she took up sports, she said, "I need to achieve. Since you are born, you will have to achieve something." Aishwarya's 14.14m effort in the 'hope, step and jump' event has put her joint 14th in the season's top list in the world and third among long jumpers from Commonwealth countries.

"I was expecting to break the national record (in triple jump). I had prepared very well for that, with a lot of hard work," said Aishwarya, whose husband works at the Governor's office in Bengaluru. "In September last year, I did 13.55m (while winning gold) in the National Open Championships.

I have improved nearly 60cm since then. My target is 14.35m." Daughter of a government employee father and homemaker mother, Aishwarya's USP is her speed. She was spotted by 2010 Asian