Long jumper Anju Bobby George is back home mending sore metatarsals in her right foot.
The long jumper hopes she is appreciated for not quitting and jumping in spite of severe pain owing to an old foot injury that flared at the wrong time
MUMABAI: Long jumper Anju Bobby George is back home mending sore metatarsals in her right foot. Two months of rest should do the trick but what could hurt is the disparagement she has attracted after fouling all three jumps in the qualifying round at Beijing.
“I regret not entering the long jump final. But I tried, believe me,” Anju told DNA from Bangalore. After consulting the International Olympic Committee doctor in Beijing, Anju took painkiller injections after getting clearance as use of some drugs like Cortisone are regulated by the WADA.
Anju doesn’t want to be drawn into a war of words with legendary 400 metre sprinter Milkha Singh, who has demanded that the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) take action against her for failing at the Olympics. She can’t help wondering if there is a hint of scorn nowadays when she is talked about.
Stress and damage to her metatarsals, Anju believes, could have first cropped up in 1998 and also in 2000. Incidentally, she didn’t go to the Sydney Games as the very same injury troubled her. Over the past few years, she has been living with this injury and winning medals, including the bronze at the 2003 World Championships in Paris.
“Now, I feel people would have been happier if I didn’t go to Beijing or if I pulled out of the long jump citing injury. I worked hard for four years with the Olympics in mind. I didn’t want to come back without trying. The discomfort and pain in my foot was unbearable but I decided to jump. I may have cut a sorry figure but I was determined to enter the final. I shut out the pain. Unfortunately I fouled,” Anju said.
A proper foot analysis will determine where excessive pressure is exerted while taking off and could go a long way in eliminating the pain. In the past, Anju and husband-coach Robert Bobby George planned to treat the condition in South Africa.
“People must realise that it’s not child’s play to win an Olympic medal in athletics. I have to compete against athletes from over 200 countries and unless you are 110 per cent fit it is impossible to enter the final or win a medal. I have won medals at the Asian Games and at World championships and at all competitions against the best in the world. Beijing was the first time I failed to enter the final of an event and that was because of this untimely injury. It really hurt… I have won everything for India except an Olympic medal… I have won in spite of pain this injury has given me. I tried my best at Athens and Beijing… hope people understand that I always gave my best,” she said.
Anju also said while people are free to raise questions, they must also take into account that she has made sacrifices along the way. “Only once did I take a grant from National Sports Development Fund. That was in 2003 and the amount was Rs 13lakh. This can be verified. The government and sports ministry have been willing to help me but I don’t want anyone to have an impression that I have wasted government money. Whenever, I have gone abroad and participated in international events I have got funds from my sponsors and have also spent money from my pocket,” she added.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}