I envy today’s generation: Anju Bobby George says she competed ‘in the wrong era’

Anju Bobby George, the first Indian to secure a medal in the World Athletics Championship, said she competed in the wrong era and envies today’s generation of Indian athletes.

She acknowledged the efforts of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in promoting and nurturing sports in the country, stating that had she played in the current era, her victories might have been celebrated differently.

Anju’s reflections came to light during a Christmas event organized at the PM’s residence. She remarked, “I spent nearly 25 years as a sportsperson and have witnessed considerable change throughout this period. I achieved India’s first international athletic medal two decades ago, but at that time, even my department wasn’t prepared to promote me.”

However, progressive changes have been observed in recent years, particularly after Neeraj Chopra’s Olympic win. She confessed to feeling envious of the current generation of sportspersons given the newfound enthusiasm for sports in India. Anju had clinched a bronze medal in the women’s long jump at the 2003 World Athletics Championships in Paris.

She lauded the renewed emphasis on women’s empowerment backing Indian girls to pursue their dreams fearlessly. Importantly, she also commended the country’s newfound trend of celebrating and appreciating athletes’ performances. Speaking confidently about India’s future in the global sports arena, Anju stated, “I believe we are en route to topping global sports standings in the coming years.”

Anju boasts an illustrious career, with key achievements including a gold medal at the 2003 Afro-Asian Games and her personal best of 6.83m at the 2004 Athens Olympic Games, where she secured the fifth place. Her distinguished contributions garnered accolades such as the Arjuna Award in 2002, Khel Ratna in 2003, and the Padma Shri in 2004, the fourth most prestigious civilian award in the country.