– Shaili Singh, a 21-year-old long jumper from Uttar Pradesh and mentee of anju Bobby George and Robert, broke a 23-year-old meet record in women’s long jump with a leap of 6.64m, surpassing Anju’s previous record (6.59m set in 2002).
– The achievement occurred during Shaili’s first competition of the season while both her coach and mentor watched from the stands.
– Anju Bobby George declared it a “perfect anniversary gift” on the occasion of her silver jubilee wedding anniversary.
– Robert emphasized that further technical corrections to Shaili’s form coudl enable her to break Anju’s national record (6.83m set at the Athens Olympics in 2004).
– Immediate goal: Winning a medal at the Asian Championships.
– Long-term target: Qualifying for the Los Angeles Olympics.
!Anju and robert get the perfect anniversary gift
Shaili Singh’s feat holds symbolic significance for Indian athletics, underscoring both continuity and progress within women’s sports development frameworks under experienced mentorship. Breaking records like Anju Bobby George’s highlights India’s growing talent pipeline, reaffirming long-jump as an area where India can aspire toward global competitiveness.An immediate focus on correcting technical errors as cited by coach Robert could pave pathways for bigger milestones such as breaking national records or entering Olympic contention-both aspirations shared by Shaili herself. Encouragingly, this achievement reflects sustained athlete-coach relationships where past champions play an integral role in nurturing new star players while helping India emerge stronger on world platforms like track & field events.
For now, this moment will likely inspire younger athletes across disciplines by showcasing how mentorship and perseverance can lead not just to personal accomplishment but also broader contributions to sport culture evolution in India.