The Hindu : Anju George wins silver at Stockholm

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Aug 07, 2003

Sport

Sport - Athletics

Anju George wins silver at Stockholm

NEW DELHI AUG. 6. After two unsuccessful attempts at Rome and Madrid, long jumper Anju George has a medal at a Grand Prix meet.

The Indian record holder and Asian Games gold medallist took the silver behind Swede Carolina Kluft at the Super Grand Prix meet at Stockholm, Sweden, on Tuesday night. She had a 6.49m on her third attempt to clinch her first big-meet medal on the IAAF circuit, the best effort by an Indian since P. T. Usha won two silvers and two bronze medals in the inaugural Grand Prix circuit in 1985.

Women's long jump not being a regular GP event this season, Anju could manage to get only 2400 euros as prize money. But this was her biggest purse all the same.

``She had a problem with stiff knees and was not getting the right extension,'' said husband and coach Bobby George over phone from Stockholm on Tuesday night. "A medal was most satisfying,'' added Bobby.

In a low-key competition and a modest field, Anju, ranked ninth in the world at the moment, had a series of 6.42, 6.41, 6.49, foul, 6.41 and 6.36.

Kluft, the World junior heptathlon champion and record holder had a fourth-round jump of 6.59 that turned out to be good enough for the gold. Spaniard Concepcion Montaner took the bronze with 6.48, just a centimetre behind Anju, while a further centimetre down was American Grace Upshaw.

Anju and Bobby are now expected to move back to Madrid where they have been training and then go to Berlin for the ISTAF meet next Sunday.

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