The Hindu : Sport / Athletics : Anju disappoints, finishes ninth

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Wednesday, Aug 29, 2007
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Anju disappoints, finishes ninth

ATHLETICS / Lebedeva clinches gold; Isinbayeva retains pole vault title

— Photo: AFP

HEAD OVER HEELS: Yelena Isinbayeva is delighted after winning the pole vault gold.

OSAKA: Anju George could manage only the ninth place with a jump of 6.53 metres in the women’s long jump competition of the World championships here on Tuesday.

The Russians swept the medals, with Tatyana Lebedeva, looking for a double here, clinching gold at 7.03 metres. Lyudmilla Kolchanova (6.92m) edged the more experienced Tatyana Kotova (6.90m), silver medallist in the last three editions, on her last jump for the silver.

Kotova had inched ahead of her team-mate in the final round after she opened with a 6.80. Kolchanova had a 6.84 in the second round.

Naide Gomes of Portugal, a seven-metre jumper this season, was fourth with 6.87m while Germany’s Bianca Kappler was fifth with 6.81m.

Poor start

Anju, who has a season best of 6.65m, started off with just 6.10 and that put her at a disadvantage straightaway. For, only the top eight after three rounds make the ‘cut’ to be eligible for the last three rounds. With a foul in the next round, the 30-year-old Indian record holder was under tremendous pressure to stay in the top eight.

Eventually, Anju managed 6.53 in her third attempt that put her at ninth. She had recorded a 6.60m in the qualifying round. Notably, defending champion Tianna Madison of the U.S., who has not been in any form this season, finished a rung below Anju at 6.47m.

This was Anju’s third straight appearance in the final of the World championships after her memorable debut in Paris in 2003 when she won the bronze. Last time, in Helsinki, she had finished fifth.

The Indian athletes have completed their engagements in the individual events with Anju alone making the final. And now only the women’s 4x400m relay remains for India. The heats are scheduled for September 1.

No world record

Meanwhile, Russia’s pole vault queen Yelena Isinbayeva easily retained her world title but was unable to break her own world record.

With all her opponents eliminated, the Olympic champion attempted to break her own world record of 5.01 but failed with three attempts to clear 5.02. Isinbayeva won with a vault of 4.80.

Czech Katerina Badurova took the silver with 4.75 and Russia’s Svetlana Feofanova the bronze after taking an extra vault to clear the same height.

Isinbayeva spent the first three rounds lying on her back with a towel over her face and returned to the same position after limbering up with a vault of 4.65.

The 25-year-old pumped her fist and squealed with joy after sailing over 4.80 at the second attempt. No one else cleared that height, paving the way for Isinbayeva to make her record bid.

Janeth Jepkosgei gave a superb display of front-running to win the women’s 800m title.

The 23-year-old Commonwealth champion ran the quickest time of the year on her way to the final and improved it to one minute 56.04 seconds to see off Morocco’s Hasna Benhassi, who finished second in 1:56.99.

“This medal is important for Kenya and me,” Jepkosgei said. Mayte Martinez of Spain’s final kick helped her past Russia’s Olga Kotlyarova for bronze in a personal best 1:57.62.

Kanter wins discus

Estonia’s Gerd Kanter grabbed the men’s discus gold to hand Lithuania’s double defending champion Virgilijus Alekna his first taste of defeat in two years.

A Baltic battle was expected between the only finalists to go over 70 metres this year but Alekna was carrying an injury and Kanter emerged a comfortable winner with his third throw of 68.94m.

“There will be a big party today, it is my day,” the 28-year-old Kanter said.

Alekna, who also won gold at the last two Olympics and had not lost for 37 consecutive competitions going back to August 2005, finished fourth with a best throw of 65.24m.

The results (all finals):

Women: 800m: 1. Janeth Jepkosgei (Ken) 1m 56.04s, 2. Hasna Benhassi (Mar) 1:56.99, 3. Mayte Martinez (Esp) 1:57.62.

Long jump: 1. Tatyana Lebedeva (Rus) 7.03m, 2. Lyudmila Kolchanova (Rus) 6.92, 3. Tatyana Kotova (Rus) 6.90, 9. Anju Bobby George (Ind) 6.53.

Pole vault: 1. Yelena Isinbayeva (Rus) 4.80m, 2. Katerina Badurova (Cze) 4.75, 3. Svetlana Feofanova (Rus) 4.75.

Men: 400m hurdles: 1. Kerron Clement (USA) 47.61s, 2. Felix Sanchez (Dom) 48.01, 3. Marek Plawgo (Pol) 48.12.

Discus: 1. Gerd Kanter (Est) 68.94m, 2. Robert Harting (Ger) 66.68, 3. Rutger Smith (Ned) 66.42.

3,000m steeplechase: 1. Brimin Kipruto (Ken) 8m 13.82s, 2. Ezekiel Kemboi (Ken) 8:16.94, 3. Richard Kipkemboi Mateelong (Ken) 8:17.59.

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