Anju Bobby George

ANJU BOOBY GEORGE was born on 19th April 1977 in Kerala. Anju Bobby George- the girl who made the Indians proud, especially girls, by winning the first medal in WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP OF ATHLETICS. She was initially motivated and trained by her father. Later she was trained by her trainer in Koruthode school. She finished her schooling in the same Koruthode school and finished her graduation from Vimala College. She was married to Robert Bobby George who was a former champion in athletics at the national level. She won her first medal at 1991-1992 athletic meet at the school level.

In that meet, she placed first in 100m and relay, second in long and high jump events. She was the womens’ champion in that meet. She started to climb the winning ladder by winning the series of metals such as bronze in 100 m hurdles and relay at national school games. Initially, she started participating in Heptathlon (combination of seven events) and then she started to concentrate on the jumping events. It made her successful by placing first in junior Asian championship in Delhi at 1996. She turned the whole country’s attention to her by placing national record in triple jump at the Bangalore federation cup and she got a silver medal in south Asian federation cup held in Nepal.

She started to make her national records better to 6.74 m in the long jump at the national circuit meet which was held in Thiruvananthapuram. She won a gold medal in long jump and triple jump at the Ludhiana National games on the same year. When she was in peak form; she started to earn medals all over the world such as Bronze medals in 2002 Commonwealth games which are held at Manchester and Gold in Asian games at Busan. The magic which made her famous all over the world took place in 2003 World Championships.

She won the Bronze medal in that championship by becoming the first Indian athlete to win the medal in the World championship for athletics. She continued to her form by winning the gold medal in Afro-Asian games at 2003. She made her personal best in 2004 by jumping 6.83 m at the 2004 Athens Olympic games but unfortunately, she placed only fifth in that Olympics. Still, it was a national record. She continued her winning streak by winning the gold in 16th Asian Athletic games which are held in South Korea and gold in IAAF world athletics.

In 2008 she won a silver medal in 3rd Asian championship and bronze in 3rd Asian athletics championship. She participated in 2008 Beijing Olympics but unfortunately, she couldn't transform into the medal. Her dream was to win the Olympic medal but it faded away as only dreams. She was honored by the Arjuna award in 2002. She was nominated and won the India's greatest sporting honor, Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award in 2003 and Padma Shri award in 2004 which was the fourth highest civilian award in India.