Sports in India other than cricket are at a development stage and are still to be improved. Not to blame the players, but our society ignores these sports and that is the main reason why India is not able to perform well at a professional level. Legendary long jumper Anju Bobby George feels that the Indian athletes will continue to lag behind at the global stage until they decide to compete regularly at top level international events.
Anju is the only Indian athlete to have won a medal in the World Championships with a long jump bronze in 2003. She said that most of the Indian athletes pay emphasis on training rather than going out and competing at the international events. She also feels that Indian players should play more international matches and have their own managers to promote professionalism.
She said the infrastructure today is much better but the athletes concentrate more on training than playing international competitions. She said, “Actually, we are doing only the training part which is the 50 per cent part. But speaking in competitions and peaking in high-level competitions through Grand Prix and Diamond League events is not happening in India.”
She also asked the athletes to bring professionalism in themselves. “You are a professional athlete and your manager or coach should take care of everything. your travel, your training, your schedule, etc. All these you have to do, it is all about bringing professionalism in yourself. It is not the federation’s job. The Americans and the Europeans, they are professional athletes and they are going all by their own. This is to be done individually. If you are in top 10 or top 20, you will get an entry in these big international events, including in the Diamond League series. You have to apply for these events and if you are among the top bracket, you will get invited,” she said.