World Athletics (Track & Field) Championship, Helsinki

[PKBasu]

Anju's best this year is the worst among the 12 finalists, and her personal best is better than just two of the finalists' (and equal to another). So it is asking a lot for her to medal today, but I hope she at least tries to go for 6.7m.
Her progress this year has been very disappointing. Perhaps she needs to focus anew on getting the best coaching possible. Some Indian corporate should adopt her, with a clear focus on winning her a medal in Beijing.

[mugu]

Anju's best this year is the worst among the 12 finalists, and her personal best is better than just two of the finalists' (and equal to another). So it is asking a lot for her to medal today, but I hope she at least tries to go for 6.7m.

She will surely aim for 6.75 or 6.80 PKB.
But then why do we despair looking at her PB and SB and comparing them with others?
All these mattered little in 2003 (though at that time Anju was a rank outsider) and they need not matter this time, too.
Since we are comparing figures, however, let's look at those in 2003:
Her season best of 6.65 (though that mark was little known and she was credited only with a wind-aided 6.47 in the lead-up) was then poorer than nine of the finalists of whom Barber (SB 6.60, gold 6.99) and Kotova (SB 6.88, silver 6.74) finished ahead of her.
The rest were:
3. Anju George 6.70 (SB 6.65, PB 6.74, qualifying 6.59)
4. Jade Johnson (GBR) 6.63 (PB 6.73, qualifying 6.62)
5. Olga Rublyova (Rus) 6.58 (SB 6.68, qualifying 6.67)
6. Tunde Vaszi (Hun) 6.53 (PB 6.86)
7. Bronwyn Thompson (Aus) 6.48 (SB 6.73, PB 7.00, qualifying 6.65)
8. Grace Upshaw (USA) 6.47 (SB 6.69, qualifying 6.55)
9. Fiona May 6.46 (SB 6.67, PB 7.11, qualifying 6.57)
10. Lyudmila Galkina (Rus) 6.45 (SB 6.66, PB 7.05, qualifying 6.72)
11. Valentina Gotovska (Lat) 6.43 (SB 6.43, qualifying 6.56)
12. Concepcion Montaner (Esp) 6.37 (SB 6.69, qualifying 6.53)
It is true that Anju's season has not progressed according to plan. Her SB of 6.54 is not all that encouraging. Nor for that matter her training jumps of 6.75 or around.
But one jump is what matters. An opening jump of 6.75, let's say. Extend that to 6.80 by around the fourth round. Even that might not be required. (Championships are always different)
The medal is yours Anju. Go for it!

[suresh]

Mugu,

I love your positive attitude.

[sameerph]

But one jump is what matters. An opening jump of 6.75, let's say. Extend that to 6.80 by around the fourth round. Even that might not be required.

Even I feel that something close to 6.75 m will end up in a medal here.
Anju can hopefully do it. Let's hope for the best.

[arjun2761]

But one jump is what matters. An opening jump of 6.75, let's say. Extend that to 6.80 by around the fourth round. Even that might not be required.

Even I feel that something close to 6.75 m will end up in a medal here.
Anju can hopefully do it. Let's hope for the best.

I believe Anju has opened with a 6.66 is now in 4th place in the second round. Kotova leads with 6.76 and two others are tied at 6.69 -- so no one has run away with anything yet.

[Prem]

I believe Anju has opened with a 6.66 is now in 4th place in the second round. Kotova leads with 6.76 and two others are tied at 6.69 -- so no one has run away with anything yet.

ANJU's best after 5 jumps remain that first jump of 6.66. Currently 5th after round 5. 1 more attempt to go.
Come on Anju...go for it... Just 5 cms more will give her a BRONZE....

[Prem]

ANJU - Well done.... Finishes a credible 5th and achives her SB. Since she had the worst SB among the 12, 5th is really commendable. Hats off and hope she goes to greater heights (rather lengths) in coming months....


FINAL RESULT
Pos Bib Athlete Country Mark Wind
1 809 Madison Tianna USA 6.89 (1.1) (PB)
2 643 Kotova Tatyana RUS 6.79 (1.5)
3 237 Barber Eunice FRA 6.76 (2.3)
4 156 Savigne Yargelis CUB 6.69 (0.1)
5 356 Bobby George Anju IND 6.66 (1.4) (SB)
6 669 Udmurtova Oksana RUS 6.53 (1.0)
7 841 Upshaw Grace USA 6.51 (1.4)
8 285 Sotherton Kelly GBR 6.42 (5.4)
9 24 Edwards Jackie BAH 6.42 (2.9)
10 354 Vaszi Tünde HUN 6.32 (1.7)
11 192 Montaner Concepción ESP 6.32 (1.3)
12 403 Goulbourne Elva JAM 6.21 (-1.7)

[mugu]

A truly great performance by Anju. To open with a season best 6.66 and then keep over 6.50 throughout was an outstanding effort. Of course the failure to get a medal will rankle, especially when one looks at 6.79 and 6.76 getting medals.
But then the conditions were far from ideal for everyone. And Anju must have really struggled in the rain, cold and windy conditions.
This competition only showed that Anju has the capacity to `peak' in time for major meets. Bobby should be complimented for that. They had their plans upset a little after Prefontaine, but this was a great comeback of sorts.
From 6.47 to 6.66 so quickly was remarkable.
I do have my suspicions about the latest champion's remarkable improvement this season. She is very young of course. And we will keep it at that.

[BSharma]

Anju's six jumps at the World Championship:

Distance (wind speed)
6.66 (1.4); 6.59 (0.8); 6.57 (0.2); 6.51 (-0.3); X ; 6.56 (0.5)

A great performance by Anju today. I am sure that she and Bobby must be disappointed at missing a medal, but Anju came through with the best jump of the season when it mattered the most.

[Varma]

Although she came up a bit short, that's a commendable performance from Anju.

Good job, girl !!!

- Varma

[jaydeep]

Really great job by Anju ... I like consistency in her jumps ... Not single jump below 6.5 ... And came SB at big moments ... Definetly we can have hope from this gal in future.

Jaydeep.

[suresh]

Coming up with a SB in the World Champiionships is somethiing to be proud of. Congratulations Anju.

[PKBasu]

Splendid performance by Anju. She achieved not one but two season-best performances -- first the 6.54 in the qualifying round (which was still only 9th equal among the finalists) and then the superb 6.66 in the final that vaulted her to 5th. Very creditable indeed.
She knows how to peak at the right time, which is one of those intangibles that even Seb Coe took awhile to master.
Anju needs to focus like a hawk on Beijing 2008, where she should be aiming for gold. Get the very best coaches to do whatever it takes to hone her technique and prepare her for her destiny!!

[jayakris]

Anju has rather consistently done this at the big events. This is really what sets her apart from many many other Indian sportsmen/women, now and in the past. The ability to peak when it matters.

If she was running short on confidence this whole year, I think she has now got it back. It is after all the post-Olympics year when athletes usually do go through a bit of a slump. Yes, it it is time to focus bigtime on 2008, but first the 2006 Asiad where she should make sure that the gold is safely in her pocket.

Jay

[PKBasu]

Yes, I am assuming that she will comfortably take the gold at both the Asian and Commonwealth Games. But the hawk-like focus should stay on gold at Beijing 2008.