Anju finishes fifth at World Athletics

Long jumper Anju B Geroge, who created history by winning a bronze medal late last month at the World Championships in Paris with a leap of 6.70m, finished fifth in the World Athletics final at Monaco on Sunday. Her 6.50m in her fourth and final attempt was much below her personal best of 6.74.

Anju cleared 6.49m in her first leap but followed it with two fouls in her second and third jump. She then cleared 6.50m in her fourth and final leap thereby failing to be in medal contention.

Eunice Barber of France won the gold with a leap of 7.05 metres. Kotova Tatyana of Russia took the silver (6.92m), while Upshaw Grace of the USA won the bronze (6.60m).

“She is really tired. They were busy getting a duplicate passport after Anju was robbed and had little time for practice. She said she wanted to comeback home at the earliest,” George Joseph, father of Robert Bobby George, said from their residence at Kannur.