New Delhi: Anju Bobby George, India’s first medal winner at the World Athletics Championships, praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for promoting sports and change in the country, saying that he was ‘in the wrong era’. ‘Competed. 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 its first global medal 20 years ago, even my department was not ready to promote me.”
This is what a retired athlete Anju Bobby George had to say about the transformation of Indian sports culture under Modi Govt.
This is what a retired athlete Anju Bobby George had to say about the transformation of Indian sports culture under Modi Govt
— Rishi Bagree (@rishibagree) December 25, 2023
“But after Neeraj (Chopra) won the medal, I have seen changes… the way we are celebrating… I envy them because I was in the wrong era,” she said. Anju, who won a bronze medal in the women’s long jump event at the 2003 World Athletics Championships in Paris, talked about women empowerment and how the country now celebrates the achievements of athletes as well. She said, women empowerment is no longer just a word. 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 we will be on top (in the sports world) in the near future,” 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 m at the 2004 Athens Olympic Games, finishing fifth. He was awarded the Arjuna Award in 2002, Khel Ratna in 2003 and Padmashree, the fourth highest civilian award, in 2004. (agency)