Date:02/08/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/08/02/stories/2008080256491800.htm

Sport - Athletics

Usha backs shooters and boxers

KOCHI: Everybody is eager to know how many medals Indians would win at the Beijing Olympics. And who would be the ones to return with glory.

P.T. Usha has put her money on two medals. And they are not from her sport.

“I think we’d win a medal in shooting and another in boxing,” said the athletics great here on Friday.

“In shooting, one of the four — Manavjit, Gagan Narang, Abhinav Bindra and Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore — should win a medal and in boxing, Vijender Singh and Akhil Kumar stand a good chance.”

So, what about athletics… and long jumper Anju George?

“Anju will have to come up with something like 6.75m to qualify for the final. And jumps above 6.90m should fetch a medal. There have been quite a few big jumps this year,” said Usha.

“But Anju is experienced now and on her day, she could pull off a surprise,” she added.

And in tennis, if Leander and Mahesh get pas the tough early round, we have some hope there, she said. — Principal Correspondent