India’s first World Athletics Championships medalist Anju Bobby George, who still holds the national record in women’s long jump, has revealed how things have changed for athletes in the country. She went on to say how her achievement went unnoticed.
Speaking at a programme organised at the PM’s residence on Christmas, Anju said, “As a sportsperson, I was here for almost 25 years and I’m seeing a lot of changes. When I got India’s first global medal 20 years ago, even my department was not ready to give me a promotion.
“But after Neeraj (Chopra) got a medal, I have seen the changes in the way we are celebrating… I envy them because I was in the wrong era,” Anju said during the event. “I think in the near future, we will be at the top (of sports world),” she said.
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Meanwhile, her national record of 6.83m set at the Athens Olympics in 2004, is still intact. Apart from that she won the gold medal at the 2003 Afro-Asian Games as well. In 2003, she was awarded the Khel Ratna, and Padma Shri in 2004.
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