|
Aug. 30 2003: A
cozy wet evening at
Stade de France, once the venue
of soccer world cup, in the vicinity of Paris at Saint
Denis, just coming out of the verge of an embarrassing
disqualification, Anju leaped to 6.70m on her fifth try. Anju
Bobby George becomes the first Indian women wins a medal in the
World Athletic Championship. It was the wind athlete's season's best
performance, but her personal best was at Trivandrum (04-06-2001)
and in New Delhi (09-09-2001).
After the victory, Anju said, "I
dedicate this medal to my people" and thanks God.
26 year old customs officer
presently working in Chennai was born of Marcose and Acamma in
Changanacherry, Keralam. Anju's athletic training began when
K.P. Thomas, the physical education teacher of CKM high school,
noted her abilities. After schooling Anju joined Vimala college
Trichur and with dedication, she continued her relentless
training with T.P. Ooseph in long jump, and in high jump as well.
Anju reached the national athletic
camp in 1996, where she met Bobby George, the younger brother of
Jimmy George, the volleyball icon. Giving up his budding
athletic career, Bobby became her fulltime
athletic coach and later her husband.
Now Anju is training with the
world record holder Mike Powell in California. Anju said, "The
training methods of her husband and the world record holder are
same, but he improved her run way techniques." After many European
exposure, she now knows that the mind set makes the difference
between the good and the great in the world tests.
Let's pray for her to get one more
medal in the next Olympics in Athens, until then leave her alone
to concentrate on her mission.
|
Women - Long Jump Records |
|
World Record:
|
Galina Chistyakova Rus
26 07 1962
|
7.52m |
|
Olympic Record: |
Jackie Joyner-Kersee USA
1988 |
7.40m |
World Leading 2003
Performance |
Maurren Higa Maggi 03 06
2003 |
7.06 0.8 |
| |
|
