The Hindu : Sport / Athletics : Anju pips Lebedeva to claim gold

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Sep 24, 2004

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Sport - Athletics

Anju pips Lebedeva to claim gold

NEW DELHI, SEPT. 23. Ace long-jumper Anju Bobby George upset Olympic champion Tatyana Lebedeva of Russia to win the gold medal in the Yokohama track and field meet in Japan on Thursday.

World No. 6 Anju cleared 6.61m to pip the World No. 1, according to information received here. Lebedeva also recorded 6.61m but had to settle for the silver as the Indian had a better second jump. Yuka Sato of Japan won the bronze with 6.44m.

American Grace Upshaw finished fourth with a jump of 6.43m while two-time Olympic champion Heike Drechseler, who bid farewell, finished fifth.

In the men's 100 metres, Olympic champion Justin Gatlin grabbed another sprint title when he cruised to an easy victory. Gatlin clocked 9.97 seconds well ahead of fellow American Leonard Scott, who finished second in 10.14. Japan's Nobuharu Asahara was third with a time of 10.20.

``It was a bit tough coming off the Olympics where I ran nine races,'' said the 22-year-old Gatlin. ``Obviously, I'm pleased with today's race, it seems I'm the best right now and I look forward to coming back here next year.''

Gatlin won gold in 9.85 seconds at Athens, where he also won bronze in the 200m and silver in the 4x100m relay.

Greene fifth

Former world-record holder Maurice Greene of the United States, who won the gold in the 100m at the 2000 Sydney Games, finished fifth after a false start. Namibian star Frank Fredericks, who is retiring, finished fourth.

In the men's 110m hurdles, Athens gold medallist Liu Xiang of China clocked 13.31 to finish first.

``I haven't had much time to train since the Olympics,'' said Liu. ``So this is a satisfying win given I wasn't in my best shape.''

Four-time world champion Allen Johnson of the United States, who fell in his second-round heat in Athens, was third.

In the men's 400m hurdles, Japan's Dai Tamasue finished first in 48.59, 0.13 seconds ahead of Jamaica's Kemel Thompson.

American James Carter was third with a time of 48.86 seconds.

Tayna wins 100m

Jamaica's Tayna Lawrence posted a time of 11.28 to win the women's 100m. American Angela Williams was second (11.32) followed by Uzbekistan's Lyubov Perepelova, who had a time of 11.46. — PTI & AP

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