In Kanpur, I could smell chemicals in the air: Anju

India’s Long Jump champion Anju Bobby George’s visit to Kanpur on Tuesday was an eventful one. This was the Padma Shri awardee’s first visit to the city as chief guest at a sports event for kids. Pleasantly surprised with the budding talent in sports in Kanpur, what worried George was the alarming pollution levels in the city. "It's good that Kanpur is a hub of industries, both leather and also tea processing, but what is alarming is the pollution in the air here. While coming to the city from Lucknow, I could smell chemicals in the air and even got a headache because of it," said George, adding, "It's high time the business fraternity in Kanpur comes up with plantation drives in the city to minimise the effect of pollution on the residents here."
Anju, who made India proud by winning the bronze medal in Long Jump in the 2003 World Championships in Athletics in Paris, was also awarded the gold medal status in the 2005 World Athletics Final in Monte Carlo following the disqualification of

Tatyana Kotova

of Russia by the International Association of Athletics Federations, following the re-testing of the latter’s sample collected at the 2005 World Championship in Helsinki. The Khel Ratna awardee feels that North India, especially UP, lacks in sports facilities for budding sports persons. "Like in the South, the northern part of India also has a lot of talent but the missing infrastructure presents a big challenge for budding sportspersons. I was really happy when I was invited to Kanpur as chief guest at an athletic meet organised by a corporate house in the city. I was overwhelmed when I got to meet young children during the meet. I feel that local support to talented sportspersons is very much required because this keeps them motivated. And such sports events and championships also help them practice their sport. If given a chance, I would surely love to come here again and promote sports among kids here," said George.
With a lot of focus on sports personalities in

Bollywood

, Anju said she too has been approached by filmmakers for a biopic. "Frankly speaking, I feel there is a lot of time for a movie to be made on my life. I have started a sports academy and presently I am busy grooming budding sportspersons there. A film should only be made on me when the sportspersons trained by me win Olympic medals. Someone told me that a filmmaker wanted to cast Anushka Sharma too play my character in my biopic and I agree with the choice. If ever a film is made on me, I feel Anushka will fit the bill and play me perfectly on screen."