When she stepped up for her fourth jump at the Stade de France in Paris, Anju Bobby George could have had Bob Beamon in mind. Almost as famous as his 8.90 m are the words of Mr Long Jump himself, "Whatever you do, don't do it halfway." George needed to beat Jade Johnson's 6.65 m to put herself in third place at the World Athletics Championships on a cold and wet evening. Watching her were her husband and coach Bobby and, closing a circle, her American guru Mike Powell. In 1991, Powell shook the rafters of world athletics by breaking Beamon's record. Twelve years to the day, hitting 6.70 m in Paris, his pupil from the East shook Indian athletics out of its hopeless stupor. On the night when it mattered, George didn't opt for half-measures. Beamon would have approved, Powell did: "She is a natural jumper and has the potential to jump beyond 7 m. I hope we can move up to the gold next year."

BY GEORGE: The Indian flies high in Paris

Today, after a World Championship bronze, India expects. The medal-the first ever by an Indian at this level-is a triumph of spirit and will: for George, 26, who comes from a small village in central Kerala, and her husband, the youngest of eight sons from one of India's most remarkable sporting families. Today she is world No. 8. Rather than be overwhelmed by her new status as the first citizen of Indian athletics, George is quietly emphatic: "I am working to hear the national anthem played while I am on the winner's podium." The reason for this confidence is her moving westwards to work with Powell and with it, grabbing the chance to compete against the best jumpers. A bronze at the Commonwealth Games in Manchester last year set in motion events that have led to Paris. A priest in Bangalore put the Georges in touch with Powell and the Sports Ministry helped fund her stint in California. He has concentrated on her run-up lengthening it from 35 m to 41 m. It helps her build the speed to gain the momentum needed when hitting the take-off board.

Powell may be her current guru, but Bobby has always been there, mentor and guide, ruthless coach on duty and regular husband off it. He made her switch to the long jump from the triple jump and, in a sense, has dreamed her dreams. Understanding his own limitations as a coach and India's as a factory for sporting excellence, it was Bobby, a mechanical engineer and triple jump national champ, who wanted her to train overseas.

Back at the Georges' home in Kannur, Kerala, it is a proud, poignant moment. Its 98-year-old matriarch Kudakkchira Annamma Joseph has seen 10 grandchildren bring back medals and accolades. In 1987, an accident took away the family's brightest star and Joseph's 32-year-old grandson, volleyball player Jimmy. Today, the wife of his younger brother has brought home the biggest prize ever. Sebastian George, brother No. 4, says, "Sixteen years after He took Jimmy away, Anju's achievement is God's way of saying sorry to us." With a year to go for the Olympics, it is also, perhaps, a way of giving India a reason to believe.