Anju bags sponsorship

World Athletics Championships bronze medallist Anju Bobby George has found a sponsor in Sobha Developers, a private real estate company.

The long jump ace signed an agreement with the company, which will sponsor her training ahead of next year's Athens Olympics.

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The agreement, which Menon and Anju exchanged, will be valid for a year, Menon said, while assuring that his Dubai-based company is ready to "look" into the genuine request for sponsorship from other athletes who have talent.

"It would be a great moment for the country if Anju achieves what she has set for at Athens," Menon said.

Expressing joy at the sponsorship, Anju said, "It is a great opportunity... the sponsorship is a great step by the corporate."

On her training, the ace long jumper, who won gold in the Afro-Asian Games, said everything is on the right track as she targets gold at Athens.

Her husband and coach, Bobby George, said there are no plans to hire a foreign coach.

"I will be her coach. No one can know Anju better than me," he said.

George he and Anju have a dream of seeing the national Tricolour flying and Indian anthem being played at Athens.

Anju, who has cleared seven metres, said she is confident of improving upon the mark.

George said currently Anju is training at Sports Authority of India Centre in Bangalore and she opted for the city as it has the best climate in the country.

He said last year the Centre granted Rs 13,79,000 for Anju's training and with Sobha Developers' sponsorship for a year, they will have no resource crunch.

Anju will move out for training in one of the bases in Europe by February and the locations being considered include Germany, Paris and Athens.

George said Anju is the lone Indian athlete to qualify for the World Indoor Championships at Budapest in mid-February and will be participating in a host of Grand Prix events in Europe.

Replying to a question, Menon said he met Anju at a sports club function in Bangalore recently and accepted a suggestion that his company sponsor the athlete's training.

Menon said he is already helping the sports academy set up by sprint queen P T Usha and would be constructing a hostel building for it next year.