'Athletes Can Now Choose Where They Train': Anju Bobby George on India's Strongest Commonwealth Games Athletics Team

New Delhi: India's recent rise in athletics is the result of years of planning, greater athlete autonomy and a stronger support system rather than overnight success, according to former World Championships medallist and Athletics Federation of India (AFI) Senior Vice-President Anju Bobby George.

In an interview facilitated by SAI, the 49-year-old legendary long jumper claimed the biggest shift has been giving athletes the freedom to choose their coaches, training bases and competition schedules instead of following a one-size-fits-all national camp model.

According to Anju, the transformation has been nearly a decade in the making, with athletes today benefiting from an ecosystem that allows them to tailor their preparation instead of adapting to a rigid centralised structure.

"This is not one or two days' work. We have been working on this for almost 10 years. The biggest change is that athletes are now able to train wherever they want. There is no compulsory national camp anymore," the 2003 World Championships bronze medallist said.

She explained that athletes now have the flexibility to choose the coaches best suited to them, train overseas if required and even bring foreign coaches to India through support provided under the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS).

"Earlier, athletes had to come to one camp and train under one coach. Sometimes the programme didn't suit them, but they had to adjust. Today they can decide where they want to train, under which coach, go abroad if needed or bring coaches here. That flexibility has changed everything."

'The Entire Ecosystem Has Changed'

Anju believes the progress in Indian athletics cannot be credited to a single organisation. Instead, she pointed to a coordinated effort involving the Athletics Federation of India (AFI), the Sports Authority of India (SAI), the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, TOPS and private sponsors.

"The ecosystem has changed completely. It's not only from the federation side but also from the ministry, SAI and TOPS. Infrastructure has improved, competition exposure has improved and athletes are getting much better support. It is a collective effort from all corners."

She also highlighted a significant cultural shift, saying parents today are more willing to encourage children to pursue athletics because they can now see visible career pathways and institutional support.

"Parents are investing more in sports now. They can see how athletes are celebrated, how they are supported and what opportunities exist. That change in mindset is bringing more youngsters into athletics."

Strong Team, But Tough Competition in Glasgow

With the Commonwealth Games beginning in Glasgow, Anju believes India has one of its strongest athletics contingents in recent years, though she stopped short of predicting a dramatic increase in the medal tally.

India won eight athletics medals at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games in 2022, and Anju expects a similar return despite much stronger competition.

"Last time we won eight medals and we are expecting somewhere around that. Neeraj is back this time after missing the last Games. We have strong long jumpers, triple jumpers, high jumpers and multiple medal hopes in javelin. Overall, this is one of the strongest teams we are sending."

When asked to identify India's biggest medal contenders, Anju said the country's strength now lies in the depth of talent rather than dependence on one athlete.

"Why only Neeraj? Sarvesh (Kushare) is there, (Murali) Sreeshankar is there. We have two long jumpers, two triple jumpers and two high jumpers (Dev Meena and Kuldeep Kumar) who are capable of winning medals. We have quality across several events."

'Neeraj vs Arshad Is Healthy Competition'

One of the biggest attractions of the athletics programme will be the latest showdown between Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra and Pakistan's Arshad Nadeem.

While acknowledging the excitement surrounding the rivalry, Anju insisted it should not be viewed through a political lens.

"People look at India versus Pakistan and think it is a war. But in athletics there is no war. It is a healthy but strong competition. We compete for our countries and naturally everyone wants to win, but it remains a sporting rivalry."

She expects the men's javelin event to be among the highlights of the Games, especially with India's Rohit Yadav also entering the competition in good form.

"The colour of the medals cannot be predicted, but we can definitely expect a great competition. India has a chance to win two medals in the event."

More Competition, Better Results

Drawing comparisons with her own career, Anju said today's athletes enjoy structured support that simply did not exist two decades ago.

She recalled how athletes earlier had to independently plan training, competitions and sponsorships, whereas today's generation receives comprehensive backing from government agencies and sports bodies.

She also pointed to the advances in sports science and injury management, citing the successful comebacks of athletes such as Murali Sreeshankar and Jyothi Yarraji as examples of how rehabilitation support has improved dramatically.

However, she believes there is still one area where Indian athletes need to improve if they are to become consistent World Championships medallists.

"Our athletes need to compete more in Diamond League meetings, Grand Prix events and other top-level competitions. You peak through competition. The more exposure you get against the world's best, the better prepared you are for major championships."

Hosting the CWG 2030 Will Be a Stepping Stone

Looking beyond Glasgow, Anju described India's ambition to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games in Ahmedabad as an important milestone in the country's preparations to bid for the 2036 Olympic Games.

She believes hosting major international competitions will not only improve infrastructure but also help athletes and organisers gain invaluable experience before an Olympic bid.

"The Commonwealth Games will be a stepping stone towards hosting the Olympics. The infrastructure, organisers and the entire ecosystem will be ready. Young athletes will also get an opportunity to witness and compete in major championships at home."

'Now I Can Name Many Athletes'

Perhaps the biggest indicator of Indian athletics' progress, according to Anju, is that Neeraj Chopra is no longer the country's lone global medal hope.

She pointed to athletes like Sarvesh Kushare, Murali Sreeshankar, Ancy Sojan, Shaili Singh and several others as evidence of the growing depth in Indian athletics.

"A few years ago, if you had asked me who could become the next global athletics star after Neeraj, I would have struggled to name someone. Today, I can point to multiple athletes. That's the biggest sign of how far Indian athletics has come."

For Anju, that depth-not just medals-is the clearest measure of Indian athletics' progress. With better infrastructure, greater athlete autonomy, stronger institutional backing and a growing pipeline of talent, she believes the country is steadily building towards becoming a genuine global force in track and field.