Anju registers season's best jump to win gold in Hanoi AGP

Hanoi (Vietnam) (PTI): Long jumper Anju Bobby George leaped season's best mark to clinch a gold to add to India's dazzling medal tally of five golds, four silvers and two bronze at the third leg of Asian Grand Prix here.

Anju, whose Olympic preparations are on full swing, gave her best shot for the season by jumping 6.55 meter to win the top honours, on Monday.

Indian middle distance runners also put up a good show by making the hat-trick of 1-2 finish in men's 1500m and 3000m runs.

Naresh Yadav clocked 3:53.98s and Sandeep Karan Singh produced the timings of 3:53.99s to win the gold and silver medals respectively in the 15000 meter event.

Vietnam's Nguyen Dinh Cuong finished third with 3:56.68s.

In the 3000m event, Kashinath Aswale travelled the distance in 8:16.22s while Ajay Kumar Patel followed with 8:16.56 while Amirov Ajmal ended up third 8:33.47s.

Shotputter Satyendra Singh claimed his second gold medal on the circuit with an effort of 17.84m.

Indian women 4x400m relay team was the best in the competition with a timing of 3:33.08s. Hhowever, their male counterparts' Olympic hopes were washed out due to heavy rain.

Water-logging on the track resulted into their slow timing of 3:07.09s.

Kashinath Naik won the silver in the Javelin throw after covering a distance of 68.65s.


Performing before her home crowd for the first time in seven years, Anju had quite a vociferous gallery to back her up for every jump this hot afternoon. And she did not disappoint her fans who turned up in large numbers.

Opening with a 6.45, Anju touched 6.50 on her second jump, but that remained her best. Considering the fact that this was her outdoor season start, after an indoor best of only 6.38m, this was quite satisfying for the star long jumper. If one looked at her 2007 start of 6.28m at Guwahati this was indeed a fine beginning for Anju. Yet, her slump in the second half of the competition when she jumped 6.31, 6.39 and 6.42 should be bothering her coach Bobby George.

-The Hindu