Anju Bobby George, a native of Kottayam, Kerala, marked her 42nd birthday on April 19, 2020. As a retired long-jump specialist, she is one of India's most decorated athletes, securing numerous accolades across national and international competitions. She and her husband, Robert Bobby George, who is also a coach, have established a sports academy to train the next generation of athletes and help them reach major competitive platforms. Anju's legacy is cemented by her historic achievement as the only Indian to win a medal at the IAAF World Athletics Finals, including her groundbreaking bronze at the 2003 Paris World Championships.
Beyond her world championship success, Anju's career is marked by a gold at the 2002 Busan Asian Games, a silver at the 2007 Asian Championship, and a bronze at the Commonwealth Games. Reflecting on her birthday and the global state of affairs, Anju admitted that while she appreciated the love from fans, the hardships of 2020 made celebrating feel wrong. She also expressed deep disappointment over the decision to move the Olympics to July 23, 2021, because of the viral outbreak. She pointed out that athletes had spent an entire four-year cycle peaking for the event, and this sudden shift forced them to completely overhaul their training and mental preparation for the new dates.
Discussing the battle against COVID-19, Anju emphasized the importance of adapting to the 'new normal' by following safety protocols, such as social distancing and staying home, urging everyone to prioritize their health. Despite the time passed since her retirement, Anju's national long-jump record of 6.83 meters remains untouched, though she notes there are promising new talents attempting to close the gap. She specifically highlighted Shaili Singh and Murali Sreeshankar as two rising stars who have quickly made a name for themselves in the athletics world despite their youth.
Shaili Singh has been gaining international traction and is frequently hailed as the successor to Anju Bobby George due to her consistent growth, recently improving her personal best from 5.94 to 6.14 meters. Anju observed that modern athletes have access to far superior technology and training tools than she did during her own career. Regarding Sreeshankar, she believes he possesses immense potential that could lead to great success, provided that the pressure of massive events like the Olympics doesn't weigh too heavily on his performance.