Anju Bobby George was an Indian Athlete who was a champion in long jump and triple jump events. She was born on April 19th, 1977 in Kottayam, Kerala. She got interest in athletics right from childhood from her father and the school was the perfect platform to pursue this interest.
Career:
Anju first showed an indication of becoming a national star in athletics in the 1996 Delhi junior Asian Championship by winning a medal in long jump. In 1999 itself, Anju won the triple jump event at Bangalore federation Cup by setting a national record. From there on, she improved a lot in each and every game and started bettering her own records. The 2001 Ludhiana national games was a stage for her to win gold in both long jump and triple jump. By clearing 6.49m at the Commonwealth games at Manchester in 2002, she won a bronze medal.
Anju had also participated in Asian Games twice, at 2002 Busan she won a gold and in 2006 Doha, she got a silver medal in long jump event. Anju bagged a bronze medal at 2003 World Championships in Athletics by clearing 6.70 m and became the first Indian athlete to win a medal in that tournament. She qualified for the 2004 Olympic games at Athens and had a personal best leap of 6.83 m and stood at fifth position and still holds the record for the national best in India.
Anju had a golden journey in the year 2005, as she bagged two gold medals in that year. First one came in Asian Athletics Championship at Incheon and the 2nd one at the IAAF World Athletics Final. In the 2007, Asian Athletics Championship she bagged a silver medal with a jump of 6.65m. She was unstoppable with her jumps and continued ruling the track in long jump in 2008 as well. In 2008, she won silver in Asian Indoor Championship in athletics and gold in Asian Athletics Championship at Kochi.
Anju went from rank 61 to rank 6 in 2 years from 2001 to 2003 and all the efforts, hard work and training had paid off her well. Anju credits her husband and coach, Robert Bobby George for her success and helping her find the potential and in achieving those milestones.
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Awards:
Anju Bobby George, has been awarded with the Arjuna Award in 2003, and also Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award in 2004 for her successful outing in athletics and bringing medals to the country. She is also a recipient of Padma Shri award, and awarded in 2004. Recently, in 2021, she was also conferred with VBC lifetime achievement award for her contribution to the athletics and sports in the country.
Anju Bobby George, after retiring from athletics, became president of the Kerala State Sports Council till 2016. Then she resigned from The KSSC and currently is the chairperson of Target Olympic Podium Scheme. She also is an executive member of Khelo India project as well as Senior Vice President of Athletics Federation of India. Anju Bobby, made the country proud throughout her career by achieving and breaking many milestones including the national best long jump record of 6.83m which still is unbroken. She was and is still an inspiration to many to bring medals and trophies for the country.
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