The Hindu : Sport / Athletics : Anju, Neelam withdraw from Asian GP series

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Jun 16, 2005

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Sport - Athletics

Anju, Neelam withdraw from Asian GP series

Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI: Anju Bobby George and Neelam Jaswant Singh have withdrawn from the Asian Grand Prix series beginning at Sidorajo, Surabaya, Indonesia, on June 18.

The rest of the Indian team left here on Tuesday. The other legs will be at Singapore (June 21) and Songhkla, Thailand (June 24.)

Anju and Neelam, the two most successful Indian athletes in recent years, pulled out of the circuit for differing reasons. Neelam did so for personal reasons while Anju, not satisfied with her recent form, wanted to stay back in Bangalore for some more time in her preparations for the rest of the IAAF Grand Prix circuit and the World championships.

In good form

Neelam had been in good form this season, reaching 60.65 in the second circuit meet at Patiala. The fact that the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) decided to field as many as four woman discus throwers in the Asian GP circuit underlined the Indian supremacy in the event.

However, the circuit was expected to be dominated by Chinese Song Aimin, the top Asian this season with a best of 63.45 metres. None of the Indian throwers now in the fray_ Seema Antil, Harwant Kaur and Krishna Poonia_ has crossed 59.0m this season.

Anju George had not been in the best of forms this season. She had started with a fourth-place finish of 6.42m at the Doha Super Grand Prix and then slumped to 6.35m at the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene where she took the sixth place on June 4.

"There is some amount of fatigue. She needs some recovery time and strength-building period. The break will allow us a clear month before she competes again at the international level. She should be back in form," said Anju's husband and coach Bobby George.

"I had started rather late this year. Thus I am yet to touch my best form. There will be little point in going to the Asian Grand Prix for experience. There will be no great fun in winning an event with a jump of 6.50 or 6.60 for that matter," said Anju. Anju had competed in the Asian GP in its inaugural year in 2002, but had skipped 2003 and 2004. This year the circuit was expected to be part of her build-up programme for the World championships in Helsinki in August.

If everything goes well, Anju would consider competing in the all-India inter-State meet in Bangalore, beginning on July 3.

That should help her re-assess her form before she embarks on her European programme that could include Grand Prix meets in Madrid (July 16), London (July 22) and Stockholm (July 26). Bobby George did not rule out a couple of smaller meets in Europe before her medal defence at the World championships in Helsinki in August.

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