Anju was born on 19 April 1977 in Kochuparambil family in Changanassery, Kerala to K. T. Markose. She was initiated into athletics by her father and her interest was further developed by her trainer in Koruthode school. She did her schooling in CKM Koruthode School and graduated from Vimala College.
Anju's journey to success from rank 61 in 2001 to rank 6 in 2003 within a short span of two years, was one of sheer hard work and intensive planning. The credit for her success goes to her husband and coach Robert Bobby George who according to her was the biggest influence who helped her in realizing her potential and achieving the goal.
Anju Bobby George made history when she won the bronze medal in Long Jump at the 2003 World Championships in Athletics in Paris. With this achievement, she became the first Indian athlete ever to win a medal in a World Championships in Athletics jumping 6.70 m. She went on to win the Gold medal at the IAAF World Athletics Final in 2005, a performance she considers her best. She also won a gold medal at the 2003 Afro-Asian Games.
In September 2005, Anju won the gold medal in the women's long jump at the 16th Asian Athletics Championship in Incheon City of South Korea with a leap of 6.65 meters. She went on to win the Gold medal at the IAAF World Athletics Final in 2005 with a leap of 6.75 m, a performance she considers her best. She won silver medal in women's long jump in 15th Asian Games, 2006 held at Doha. In 2007, Anju won silver medal in 17th Asian Athletics Championship at Amman ( Jordan) with a jump of 6.65m and this qualified her for Osaka World Championship in August 2007 where she finished 9th. Anju start her 2008 season with silver medal in 3rd Asian Indoor Championship in athletics at Doha (Qatar) with a jump of 6.38m and she improved her distance to 6.50m by winning gold in the 3rd South Asian Athletics Championship at Kochi ( Kerala, India).
Career Highlights:
1996
- 1st place TJ Pune
- 4th place LJ/TJ Jr. Asian Track & Field Meet
- 1st place TJ National Championships
- 1st place LJ Madras
- 2nd place TJ Calcutta
- 1st place LJ Bangalore
- 1st place LJ Sri Lankan Open
- 1st place LJ National Championships
- 1st place LJ Trivandrum International Circuit Meet
- 2nd place LJ Katmandu SAF Games
- 1st place LJ Lucknow Federation Cup
- 1st place LJ Hissar International Circuit Meet
- 1st place LJ Bhopal International Circuit Meet
- 1st place LJ New Delhi International Circuit Meet
- 1st place LJ Banglore Federation Cup
- 1st place LJ Trivandrum Circuit Meet
- 1st place LJ/TJ Ludhiana National Games
- 3rd place LJ Hungary International Invite
- 1st place LJ Chennai
- 1st place TJ InterState
- 1st place LJ Bangalore
- 1st place LJ Asian Games
- 1st place TJ Federation Cup
- 1st Place LJ/TJ Federation Cup
- 1st place LJ Busan Asian Games
- 1st place LJ National Championships
- 1st place LJ New Delhi National Open- 1st place LJ Hyderabad National Games
- 2nd place LJ Asian Grand Prix
- 3rd place LJ Commonwealth Games
- 1st place LJ Eagle Rock
- 1st place LJ Afro Asian Games
- 1st place LJ Jim Bush SC Meet
- 1st place LJ Modesto NorCal Meet
- 2nd place LJ Stockholm IAAF Super GP
- 3rd place LJ World Athletic Championships
- 4th place LJ Golden League World GP
- World Ranked #6
- 1st place LJ Seiko
- 1st place LJ All-Stars
- 1st place LJ Chennai
- 1st place LJ New Delhi
- 1st place LJ Grand Prix Doha
- 2nd place LJ Madrid
- 2nd place LJ Eugene
- 3rd place LJ Prefontaine
- 4th place LJ Osaka
- 1st place LJ Asian Championships
- 1st place LJ National Championships
- 2nd place LJ World Athletics Final
- 4th place LJ Stockholm
- 4th place LJ London
- 1st place LJ Federation Cup
- 1st place LJ Interstate Chennai
- 1st place LJ Colombo South Asian Games
- 2nd place LJ Doha Asian Games
- 2nd place LJ Pune Asian Grand Prix
- 2nd place LJ Bangalore Asian Grand Prix
- 2nd place LJ Pattaya Aisan Indoor Championships
- 1st place LJ Pune
- 1st place LJ Asian Grand Prix Pune
- 1st place LJ Asian Grand Prix Guwahati
- 2nd place LJ Asian Championships
- 3rd place LJ Bayer
2008
- Beijing Olympian
- 1st place LJ Bangalore
- 1st place LJ Inter-State Madurai
- 1st place LJ Asian Grand Prix Hanoi
- 1st place LJ Asian Grand Prix Nakhon
- 1st place LJ Asian Grand Prix Bangkok
- 1st place LJ South Asian Championships
- 2nd place LJ Asian Championships
Padma Shri, India's fourth highest civilian award in 2004.
Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award in 2003–2004 after her success in the World Athletic meet
Arjuna award in 2002–2003 for eminent sports persons from the government of India and the country's highest sporting honour
Jimmy George Award in the year 2004.
Hero Sports Academy Awards- Sports Woman of the year in 2004 & 2005.
Mathrubhumi Star of the year in the year 2003.
The best female Athlete National Games in the year 2001 & 2002.
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