‘Anju Bobby George’ the name is itself sufficient to introduce the legacy of Indian athletics for women in the early 90s . Today the Legendary Indian athlete Anju Bobby George has been bestowed with the Woman of the Year Award by World Athletics (WA) for grooming talent in the country and advocating gender equality. The 44-year-old Anju, the only Indian to have won a medal in the World Championships with a long jump bronze in the 2003 edition, was named for the award in the world body’s annual awards night on December 1.
The Prestigious Award For Grooming Talent And Encouraging Girls
The 2003 World Championships bronze medalist in long jump was awarded ‘Woman of the Year’ for constantly being the voice of change in the country and guiding young girls to follow her footsteps. Anju responded by saying that she was ‘humbled’ and ‘honoured’ to win the Woman of the Year Award by World Athletics. “There is no better feeling than to wake up everyday and give back to the sport, allowing it to enable and empower young girls! Thank you for recognising my efforts,” she tweeted.
Congratulations to @anjubobbygeorg1 on being crowned this year's Woman of the Year at the #WorldAthleticsAwards
Her efforts in advancing the sport in India as well as inspiring more women to follow in her footsteps make her more than a worthy recipient of this year's award. pic.twitter.com/5TSWxj4vqt
— World Athletics (@WorldAthletics) December 1, 2021
In 2016 @anjubobbygeorg1 opened a training academy for young girls, which has already helped to produce a world U20 medallist. A constant voice for gender equality, she also mentors schoolgirls for future leadership positions within the sport.
Our 2021 Woman of the Year ? pic.twitter.com/51cLcP4JNB
— World Athletics (@WorldAthletics) December 2, 2021
“Congratulations to Anju Bobby George on being crowned this year’s Woman of the Year at the World Athletics Awards,” World Athletics wrote on Twitter. “Her efforts in advancing the sport in India as well as inspiring more women to follow in her footsteps make her more than a worthy recipient of this year’s award.”
Anju Had Opened Academy For Young Girls
In 2016, Anju Bobby George opened a training academy for young girls, which has already helped to produce a world U20 medallist. World Athletics added that her efforts in advancing the sport in India as well as inspiring more women to follow in her footsteps make her “more than a worthy recipient” of this year’s award.
Truly humbled and honoured to be awarded Woman of the Year by @WorldAthletics
There is no better feeling than to wake up everyday and give back to the sport, allowing it to enable and empower young girls!
Thank you for recognising my efforts. ?? pic.twitter.com/yeZ5fgAUpa
— Anju Bobby George (@anjubobbygeorg1) December 1, 2021
“I am serving as senior vice-president of Indian athletic federation (AFI) and my academy, Anju Bobby George Foundation, is nurturing 13 women athletes, small kids, and within a short span of three years they will all have already started their journey to the world stage. I thank all my supporters, all my fellow athletes, coaches, my family, federation and everyone who stood with me during my journey. Thanks a lot once again for considering me.” Anju said in her statement.
Hailing from Kerala, Anju is India’s only medallist at the IAAF World Championships (Paris, 2003), a gold medallist in the IAAF World Athletics Finals (Monaco, 2005). She finished sixth in the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens with a personal best leap of 6.83m, but was elevated to fifth place in 2007 when the United States of America’s Marion Jones was disqualified for a doping offence. Besides her Olympic triple, she also clocked world-leading times of 10.54 and 21.53 over 100m and 200m respectively, moving to second on the world all-time lists and coming within touching distance of the long-standing world records.
Source : The Hindu
