The Hindu : Anju jumps to sixth spot in rankings

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Sep 04, 2003

Sport

Sport - Athletics

Anju jumps to sixth spot in rankings

New Delhi Sept. 3. Long jumper Anju George, who created history by winning India's first ever medal in the World championships in Paris last week, has moved up two places to a career-high six in the latest World ranking list.

Anju, winner of the bronze with a season best effort of 6.70m behind France's Eunice Barber and Russia's Tatyana Kotova, has 1224 points. Meanwhile, Kotova took over the top spot from Brazilian Maureen Higa Maggi, who missed the Paris meet, with 1322 points.

Maggi is second with 1291, according to the rankings released by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF).

The jump for the 25-year-old Anju from her No. 8 position in the previous list a fortnight back also ensured the Asian Games gold medallist an automatic place in the World Athletics Final in Monaco on Sept. 13 and 14. Athletes ranked in the top seven get a direct entry.

The new list also saw Paris gold medal winner Barber break into the top-10 for the first time.

Ranked a modest 27 before the World championships, the Frenchwoman leapfrogged to No. 8 in the new list.

The rankings:

Women's long jump: 1. Tatyana Kotova (Rus) 1322 points, 2. Maureen Higa Maggi (Bra) 1291, 3. Elva Goulbourne (Jam) 1253, 4. Olga Rublyova (Rus) 1235, 5. Tunde Vaszi (Hun) 1227, 6. Anju George (Ind) 1224, 7. Grace Upshaw (U.S.) 1210, 8. Eunice Barber (Fra) 1205, 9. Jade Johnson (Eng) 1204 and 10. Concepcion Montaner (Esp) 1201. — PTI

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