Sport - Athletics

Anju invited to World final

NEW DELHI: Anju George has been invited to the season-ending World athletics final to be held in Stuttgart on September 13 and 14.

Discus thrower Harwant Kaur, currently ranked fourth on the points table, based on her performance in the Asian Grand Prix series, should also stand a chance to qualify for the Stuttgart meet. There are still ranking events left in Europe and a final picture will emerge only after September 10.

Anju, who failed to qualify for the final in the Olympic Games, fouling all her three jumps, has been nursing an old foot injury that flared up in Beijing. Though she considers the opportunity to compete in Stuttgart as an honour, she could be doubtful for the meet because of her injury.

Anju had won the silver in the 2005 final. She did not qualify in 2006 and 2007.

The top seven athletes (top 12 in races upwards of 1500m) ranked on the basis of points earned from their best five results (four for throws) in the IAAF Golden League, Super Grand Prix, Grand Prix and Area Permit meetings will qualify for the final. The eighth athlete (12th in the case of 1500m upwards) will be invited at the discretion of the IAAF.

Anju, with 31 points (10 from the Doha Super GP, three from the Eugene GP, and six each from the three Asian GP legs) is ranked eighth.

Harwant Kaur is ranked joint fourth at the moment, with 23 points earned from just three Asian GP meets. She also failed to qualify for the final in Beijing with a throw of 56.42 metres. — Special Correspondent

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