Shaili Singh is the role model Gen Z deserves

It’s a searingly hot afternoon in Delhi, with clear skies and a dry, parched feeling in the air. We have decided to shoot at a sports stadium—a decision lauded by no one but this writer, now practising butterfly strokes in the cesspool of her own sweat. While the crew finds novel ways to steer clear of a heatstroke (there is ice and handheld fans involved), Shaili Singh is sitting in a makeshift tent to finish her makeup, eyes glued to the phone screen. There’s an athletics championship underway, and the competition is close—her eyes light up instantly as a player leaps into the sky. No layer of subtle sheen on her eyes or dewy pink on the lips matches the game-set-sparkle glow.

Born in Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh, Singh is a long jump prodigy. At 21, she has a vault of medals to back that qualification—in June, a silver at the Taiwan Athletics Open that followed a bronze at the Asian Athletics Championships in South Korea, just weeks before. Among this year’s biggest win, however, was a gold at the Federation Cup in Kerala, where Singh broke ace athlete Anju Bobby George’s 23-year-old meet record. What made the deal extra sweet was the fact that George, the first Indian athlete ever to win a medal at the World Championships in Athletics (Paris, 2003), is also her mentor and coach.

Scouted at the age of 14 by George and her husband (also her former coach) Robert Bobby George, Singh now lives and trains at their foundation in Bengaluru, away from her home, as her mother and two siblings cheer from afar. It’s evident that the Gen Z athlete has grown leaps and bounds (pun, expected) since she started training, and today, the sweet-voiced, tall girl is more than just her fiery landings. She is a lesson in building muscle, literally and metaphorically.

It’s not another small-town-to-big league story, but an attempt to find new muses and soft heroes for a generation doomed to scroll, and stuck in the anxieties of high-protein and low motivation.

In India, women in sports—especially the kind that don’t get enough airtime—are breaking barriers. Their skill and stories, amped by brand collaborations, a growing fandom, and increased online visibility. Singh is among these rising sports stars, a girl-next-door personality who embodies a quiet sense of strength. During the shoot, she is body-confident (thanks to years of physical and mental training), inquisitive, and forever-smiling. It’s her pumped-up playlist blasting from speakers that sets the tone for the shoot. Her Stanley Cup-style tumbler and the dainty charms dangling from her phone are subtle reminders that beyond the medals and muscle, she’s every bit a product of her generation.

Before we wrote a love letter to humidity (after dreaming of synthetic tracks for months), we brought the mentor and mentee together for a conversation on unlearning, being a sports star in the age of Instagram, the power of manifestations and affirmation walls, and on why nail polish (surprise!) never dares to dim a star performance.

Anju Bobby George: When we found you, you were hardly 14. There was no muscle or running style, but just the spark in your eyes. And, that’s what we focused on. After coming here, you have changed a lot. How do you feel at this moment?

Shaili Singh: Entering sports has been a complete stroke of luck. I didn’t know who an athlete was or that there were championships all over the world where they would compete. However, after coming here, I eventually realised that I just wanted to fly... soar like a bird. I wanted the sand (the pit on which long jump athletes land) to rise all around me when I would reach my destination... a visual inspired by photos of you captured all over the world. It was a powerful image, the sea of sand engulfing you when you landed. And, that’s all I wanted to replicate!

ABG: As a long jumper, the real play is not on the ground—it’s in the air. So it’s a different kind of IQ to be honed. And, you are a fast learner. Sprint, jump, ability, strength—you have it all. But sometimes there are distractions. When we were young, we didn’t have too many of them though. Do you find yourself struggling with these from time to time?

SS: Yes! Sometimes I get too caught up with Instagram, scrolling through Reels, putting up posts and stories mindlessly. Because we (the athletes) are on the ground all the time and have a strict daily routine, this becomes a way to disconnect from that disciplined life for a bit. However, over time, I have come to realise that this was happening more often than it should—so for a month, I deleted Instagram (till the onset of the Asian Championships). I have to admit that I felt a sense of relief, I was at ease and free from refreshing my feed constantly. Initially, of course, I used to think about likes, traction, and such stuff [Singh has over 56K followers on Instagram, qualifying for the ‘micro-influencer’ status in social media math]. But eventually I realised that if I get a big medal for the country, a million followers won’t be too far.

ABG: During my active days, when I was on the field, many used to criticise me for wearing makeup. Well...for even wearing nail polish! I was particular about how I looked, I was representing my country after all. I remember once when I was in the US, training under Mike (Powell), I asked him: “Why are you always cheering towards the crowd?” That’s when he said: “We are not only athletes, we are also performers. So we believe that appearance and expression is very important in this sport.” How do you feel in that regard, when it comes to honing a personal style, and when you are among athletes from all over the world?

SS: When I started going for international tournaments, I was stunned to see women of diverse nationalities with beautifully done makeup, nails, and hair. There was a lot of confidence that they drew from those details, and I think that reflected in their performance, too. In comparison, I was really simple and understated. But eventually, I learnt to put on some makeup and do my hair (box braids-inspired style has become Singh’s memo). Initially, I faced a bit of backlash for putting effort in my appearance... like the kind you speak of. People asked—what does makeup have to do with your jump? But over time, I became comfortable in my skin and knew that my on-field performance will answer for everything.

ABG: In the past few years, India’s push towards training and supporting women athletes has increased. We are capable of showcasing our country in front of the world and we are getting more medals. Tell me, what is your ultimate aim?

SS: If you come into my room (at the Anju Bobby Sports Foundation), you will notice I have a series of calendars and posters that list upcoming championships. I have done this so I can see them daily and chart a mental path for myself. In the same way, I have a crafts-version of Olympic rings plastered on my wall, to manifest what I want. So if you ask my ultimate goal, it is to bring home an Olympics medal. That’s my finish line.

Editor: Snigdha Ahuja(@snigdha.ahuja)
Digital Editor: Sonal Ved (@sonalved)
Interview: Anju Bobby George (@anjubgeorge)
Photographer: Tarun Vishwa (@tarunvishwaofficial)
Stylist: Devanshi Tuli (@devanshi.15)
Cover Design: Mandeep Singh Khokhar (@mandy_khokhar19)
Editorial Coordinator: Shalini Kanojia (@shalinikanojia)
Make-up and Hair Artist: Deepa Verma (@deepa.verma.makeup)
Assistant Stylists: Mishthi Monga (@mishthiimongga) and Harshita Samdariya (@harshitasamdariya)
Line Producers: Pranjali Khera (@pranjalikhera) and Rohit Karotiya

On Shaili: Jacket, bralette, and shorts, NoughtOne (@noughtone01); jewellery, Lune (@shoplune); socks, SockSoho (@socksoho); shoes, Nike (@nike)