Praveen Amre got Sachin Tendulkar his first pair of respectable shoes. Then came a day when Sachin was paid to wear shoes. Cricket has such happy endings. But how long must Anju George jump for someone to lend her Olympic-level shoes. Since nobody watches long jump, nobody has asked her to smile and sell fmcgs on TV. That would have helped. She needs money. Serious money.
Somebody ask the government to hide those shoes that they send her. "When you stand before the whole world wearing the tricolours and use those kits," her husband Bobby George says, "it's very embarrassing". And those tights that they send her. That too may not be necessary. "Because how can they be tights if they are two sizes larger." But the establishment did help her. A Rs 13.79 lakh dole helped her train in the US and Europe for about five months. She went to moderate gyms. Worked hard with long jump record holder Mike Powell and is one of the top contenders for a medal at Athens.
But as far as corporate sponsorship, even in barter deals, are concerned, she has not got lucky so far. Samsung has chosen her among four other Indian athletes. Mahesh Bhupathi, who manages Sania Mirza, is in talks with her. Hyundai too has shown interest. "But it's been difficult to find good sponsorship so far that will cover all the costs," her husband says. "If you are an Indian, you have to go through all this, to achieve real greatness. She will keep trying."
