Global award for Anju: Giant leap for womankind
India's legendary long jumper Anju Bobby George was on Thursday bestowed with the Woman of the Year Award by World Athletics for efforts towards grooming talent in the country and advocating gender equality.
She is the first Indian to be honoured by the sport's world body, and was named for the award during virtual annual awards function.
“This award for the entire women force in our country. I am sure it will help women to come forward in all walks of life," said Anju Bobby George talking to FPJ on Thursday.
"I am sure this will boost the morale of young girls to take up athletics and the elders to come forward in the administration of athletics," said Anju, who is the only Indian to have won a medal (bronze, 2003) in the World Championships.
World Athletics in a release stated,"The former international long jump star from India is still actively involved in the sport. In 2016, she opened a training academy for young girls, which has already helped to produce a world U20 medallist."
Anju started her academy in the year the 2016 for training for young girls, which has already helped to produce a world U20 medallist.
Promising long jumper Shaili Singh, who was spotted and mentored by Anju and trained under her husband Robert Bobby George, recently won a silver in the World U-20 Athletics Championships.
A constant voice for gender equality, she also mentors schoolgirls for future leadership positions within the sport.
"Truly humbled and honoured to be awarded," said Anju, one of the country's most illustrious track and field athletes. Last year, Anju was elected as senior vice-president of the Athletics Federation of India, the highest post occupied by a woman in its history. Talking about how awards and medals can inspire budding athletes, Anju said, "I won a medal in the World Championships but not in the Olympics.
"Neeraj Chopra's medal at the 2020 Tokyo Games has shown that Indians can win gold medal at that level. And it is something which will push the kids to take up track and field events,” she said.
Anju added that latest award might also motivate former women athletes to take up talent nurturing. “This award should help former women athletes to come take up responsibility in nurturing budding girl athletes.”
Olympic champions Elaine Thompson-Herah of Jamaica and Karsten Warholm of Norway were named the World Athletes of the Year at the awards night.
The awards were earlier known as World Athletics Gala Awards.