Bangalore: Commonwealth Games medallist Anju Bobby George today (Dec 17, 2003) inked an agreement with Sobha Developers, a private real estate company, which has come forward to sponsor her training ahead of the next year's Athens Olympics.

This is the first-ever sponsorship being extended by a corporate to an athlete and the company would be providing Rs 30 lakh assistance to Anju, Sobha Developers chairman P N C Menon told a press conference.

The sponsorship agreement, which Menon and Anju exchanged would be valid for an year, Menon said and assured that his Dubai-based company was ready to "look" into the genuine request for sponsorship from athletes who have talent.

Menon said his company was not looking at Anju for publicity and he felt that it was a great privilege and opportunity to help a talented athlete who has already achieved at the global level.

"It would be a great moment for the country, if she acheives at Athens," Menon said.

Expressing joy over the sponsorship, Anju said, "It is a great opportunity. We need more money. The sponsorship is a great step by the corporate."

Anju, who won gold in the Afro-Asian Games, commenting on her training said everything was on the right track and she was targeting gold at Athens.

PTI