I am jealous of current athletes because I competed in the wrong era: Anju – Dainik Savera Times

New Delhi: India’s first medal winner at the World Athletics Championships, Anju Bobby George, praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for promoting sports and change in the country, saying she competed in the ‘wrong era’. Speaking at an event organized at the Prime Minister’s residence on the occasion of Christmas, long jumper great Anju said, “As a sportsperson, I competed for almost 25 years and I am seeing a lot of changes. When I won India’s first global medal 20 years ago, even my department was not ready to promote me.

“But after Neeraj (Chopra) won the medal, I have seen changes… the way we are celebrating… I envy him because I was in the wrong era,” she said at the 2003 World Athletics Championships in Paris. Anju, who won a bronze medal in the women’s long jump event, talked about women empowerment and how the country now celebrates the achievements of athletes too. Women empowerment is not just a word anymore, she said. Every Indian girl is ready to dream and they know that their dreams will come true.”

The Prime Minister interacted with the Christian community on the occasion of Christmas and Anju was among the prominent people attending the event. “I think in the near future we will be on top (in the sports world),” Anju said. Among her other achievements, Anju won a gold medal at the 2003 Afro-Asian Games and achieved a personal best of 6.83 meters at the 2004 Athens Olympic Games, placing her fifth. He was awarded the Arjuna Award in 2002, Khel Ratna in 2003 and Padmashree, the fourth highest civilian award, in 2004.