Anju Bobby George

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Anju Bobby George (born April 19, 1977) is an Indian athlete. Anju Bobby George made history when she won the bronze medal in Long Jump at the 2003 World Championships in Athletics in Paris. With this achievement, she became the first Indian athlete ever to win a medal in a World Championships in Athletics clearing 6.70 m. She went on to win the silver medal at the IAAF World Athletics Final in 2005, a performance she considers her best.

[edit] Early life

Anju was born in Cheeranchira Kochuparambil family in Changanassery, Kerala to K.T. Markos and Gracy. She was initiated into athletics by her father and her interest was further developed by her trainer Mr. Thomas in Koruthode school. She did her schooling in St. Ann's High School and CKM Koruthode School and graduated from Vimala College. In the School Athletic meet in 1991-92, she won the 100 m hurdles and relay and stood second in long jump and high jump events, thus becoming the women's champion. Anju's talent was noticed in the national schools games where she won third place in 100 m hurdles and 4x100 m relay. She was the Calicut University Champion in her college days.

[edit] Professional career

Although she started with Heptathlon, she later began to concentrate on her jump events and went on to win long jump medal in the 1996 Delhi junior Asian championship. In 1999 Anju set the national record for triple jump in the Bangalore Federation Cup and Silver medal at the South Asian Federation Games in Nepal. In 2001 Anju bettered her own record in long jump to 6.74 m in the National Circuit Meet at Thiruvananthapuram. In the same year she also won gold for triple jump and long jump in the Ludhiana National games. Anju reigned supreme in her events in the Hyderabad National games also. She won the bronze medal clearing 6.49 m at the 2002 Commonwealth Games at Manchester. She also won the gold medal at the Asian Games in Busan. She made history when she won the bronze medal clearing 6.70 m in Long Jump at the 2003 World Championships in Athletics in Paris, becoming the first Indian athlete ever to win a medal in a World Championships in Athletics. She achieved her personal best of 6.83 m at the 2004 Olympic Games at Athens that brought her the sixth position. In September 2005, she won the gold medal in the women's long jump at the 16th Asian Athletics Championship in Incheon City of South Korea with a leap of 6.65 metres. She went on to win the silver medal at the IAAF World Athletics Final in 2005 with a leap of 6.75 m, a performance she considers her best.

She received the prestigious Arjuna award in 2002-2003 for eminent sports persons from the government of India and the country's highest sporting honour, Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award in 2003-2004 after her success in the World Athletic meet. She was conferred Padma Shri, India's fourth highest civilian award in 2004. Anju now ranks 4th in the world^{[citation needed]}, her highest ever (She also reached the same rank in May-June, 2004).

Anju's journey to success from rank 61 in 2001 to rank 6 in 2003 within a short span of two years, was one of sheer hard work and intensive planning. The credit for her success goes to her husband and coach Bobby George who according to her was the biggest influence who helped her in realising her potential and achieving the goal. Bobby who is a Mechanical Engineer and a former National Champion in Triple jump himself, gave up his career to become a full time coach to Anju in 1998. He belongs to a prestigious sports family and is the younger brother of the famous Volley ball player Jimmy George. Anju and Bobby, realising that international exposure is essential for competing in World class events made necessary arrangements and trained with Mike Powell, a world record holder, before the World Athletics meet, which gave her valuable exposure in technique.

Anju is employed with the Customs department while her husband Robert (Bobby) George is with the Public Works Department, Government of Kerala. They live and train in Chennai.