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There was a time when long jumper Anju Bobby George was an object of envy. For most, marriage comes as a rude end to their dreams, days of glory and hope. Not for George; she peaked. But for every George there were many Neetu Davids. The left-arm off-spinner gave up a career with 171 wickets to get married. And that was the last anyone heard of her.

Times have changed, however. Cricketer Anjum Chopra, shuttler Shruti Kurien and hockey player Pritam Rani Siwach are handling a successful sporting career and marriage quite well.

Anjum Chopra is the captain of the Indian women’s cricket team. Her batting and captaincy have not lost their edge or finesse after marriage. In fact, she is perhaps a better player. Busy with her cricket, Chopra had not given a thought to marriage. But there were others worrying for her. So at 28, she took the plunge. .

Her husband is an IAS officer of the Madhya Pradesh cadre. It’s been three years since; and she has no complaints - she remains the captain and an elegant bat.

“It was a new beginning for me. It was like suddenly stepping into a new life. Since it was an arranged marriage, everything about my career was discussed,” says Chopra. “My husband has always been very supportive. My commitments force me to stay away from him quite a lot, but we always try to enjoy whatever time we get together.” And now he is in the US, pursuing an MBA. “We are on the phone always.“

Pritam Rani Siwach is the youngest bahu in a family of 14. And she is now the mother of two children. But nothing changed for this member of the Indian women’s hockey team. And here is a real saas-bahu story with a delightful twist. “My mother-in-law, Geena, supported me in completing my coaching course at NIS, Patiala,” says Siwach. This former India captain took a break from hockey to marry. Now she’s back in the team and runs a coaching centre.

Siwach’s father- in-law takes care of the kids when she goes to the centre. And husband Kuldeep, a former hockey player, is a pillar of strength. He is also an unabashed fan of his wife. “Had I been in her position, I would have left hockey, hats off to Pritam”.

When Siwach is home, she’s like any daughter-in-law, wife and mother. “I cook, do jhadu-katka and take care of my kids.”

Shruti Kurien is in a long distance marriage. While she polishes up her badminton in Hyderabad, husband Nikhil Kanetkar - also a top shuttler - trains in Bangalore. They meet mostly at tournaments.

“Since she is a doubles player, it did not make sense that she train away from her partner,” says Kanetkar. “She has great potential and just because we married, there’s no need for her to stay home.” Kurien sees no difference in the lives of a professional sportsperson and a career woman - they both work and both have families.

Kurien believes her game has improved. “The social pressure goes off once you are married. So there is peace of mind.” The year she married her doubles ranking went up from 100 to 32. And now she ranks 26.