J. J. Shobha participates in the heptathlon and was the winner of the event at the inaugural Afro Asian games in 2003. Her personal best of 6211 points, achieved in 2004 is a National Record.

She came into the news for her performance at the 2004 Olympic games in Athens; where she completed the seven-discipline heptathlon event despite being injured in the penultimate event of Javelin throw. She had to be carried off the field but she returned with a tightly strapped left ankle and finished 3rd in the final event (800 m) and 11th overall with 6172 points. She was awarded the Arjuna award for the year 2004 for her gritty performance.