E-Paper
Anju Bobby George
George is on a high, not just physically but also mentally.
Date of birth: April 19, 1977
Event: Long Jump
First Olympics appearance: Athens; missed Sydney due to injury
Record at Olympics: -
Achievements: Bronze medalist at 2003 World Athletics Championships and 2002 Commonwealth Games
Here’s one who, on a given day, is well within the reach of the ‘magical’ Olympic gold. The Kerala long jumper Anju Goerge is on a high, not just physically but also mentally. At a recent Television programme called ‘Harsha Unplugged’, when asked what if she isn’t able to make it on the D-Day, Anju said, “I don't want to even think of not being able to win a medal. Optimism and confidence is very important for an athlete and I don't want any negative thoughts to come into my mind."
If at the highest level sport is all in the mind, Anju is surely in tune for gold. Known for her technique she has been consistency performing at international championships. She is the first Indian woman athlete to win a medal at the World Athletic Championships, claiming the bronze at the 2003 Paris edition. She won the gold at the Asian Games in 2002 and the bronze at the Commonwealth Games the same year.
To stand a chance for an Olympic gold she has to cross the seven-metre mark. "Seven metres is the magical figure for a chance of a medal. If you do 7.1 to 7.2 you could get gold. Even jumping 6.95 could give you a chance of a medal. I had done about 7.20 in Doha but it was a foul jump by a few millimetres. So it can't be counted," she admits. Anju missed the Sydney Olympics fours year back due to injury.
