J. J. Shobha Biography 
J. J. Shobha is an Indian athlete of Karnataka origin. She is a professional track and field athlete from Pashupathihaal village near Dharwad in Karnataka. She was the winner of the heptathlon event at the inaugural Afro-Asian Games in 2003. 6211 points is her personal best, a national record too, which she achieved in 2004. She participated in 2004 Olympic Games in Athens representing India, and came to spotlight that time. She completed the seven-discipline heptathlon event despite being injured, and made a mark of her own in world’s biggest sport event. Government of India honoured her with Arjuna award the same year.
Her full name is Javur Jagadeeshappa Shobha. She was born on 14 January 1978 in Dharwad in Karnataka. Pashupathihaal is her native village. From a remote village, she rose to the position of one of the prominent female athletes of the country. Her personal best for long jump is 6.66 m, thus becoming one among the top four woman athletes from India to cross 6.5 meters. Other female athletes of the country to achieve this feat include Anju Bobby George (6.83 m), Pramila Aiyappa and M. A. Prajusha (6.55 m).
During her active professional years, she regularly participated in Heptathlon events in different parts of the world (2002-2008), and has delivered some glowing performances. Afro-Asian Games held at Hyderabad in 2003 is her personal best with 5884 points, in which she finished first. In 2002 Asian Championships held at Colombo, she finished at position two with 5775 pts, followed by Asian Games where she finished third with 5870 pts. She made a stunning performance in 2004 Olympic Games accumulating 6172 pts and finishing at 11th position, which is regarded as her career best.
Published: August 30, 2018
Updated: August 30, 2018
