Anju Bobby George (born 19 April 1977) is an Indian former athlete. She made history when she won the bronze medal in long jump at the 2003 World Championships in Paris. With this achievement, she became the first Indian athlete ever to win a medal at the World Athletics Championships jumping 6.70 metres (22.0 ft).[1] She went on to win the gold medal at the World Athletics Final in 2005, a performance she considers her best.
Anju was upgraded to the gold status from silver in the 2005 World Athletics Final in Monte Carlo following the disqualification of Tatyana Kotova of Russia by the International Association of Athletics Federations, after the re-testing of the latter's sample collected at the 2005 World Championship in Helsinki.[2] She was awarded the Arjuna Award in 2002, Khel Ratna in 2003 and Padma Shri in 2004.[3] She finished 5th position with a personal best of 6.83 metres (22.4 ft) at the 2004 Olympics. In March 2021, she won the BBC lifetime achievement award for best athlete in India.[4] she is the current chairperson of Athletics Federation of India(AFI).[5]
She received the Arjuna award in 2002–2003 for eminent sportspersons 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.[7]
Anju Bobby George pulled out of the 52nd national inter-state athletics in Hyderabad, due to an upper respiratory tract infection.[8]
Personal life
Anju is married to Robert Bobby George, who is a former national champion in triple jump and her coach too. She is employed with the Customs department in Bangalore. The couple have a son Aaron and a daughter Andrea.[9]
Sports associations
Anju was appointed as president of the Kerala State Sports Council (KSSC).[10] She resigned from the post on 22 June 2016.[11] She is the vice president of the Athletics Federation of India.
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