Lack of top international experience proved costly for Anju George as she ended up at the sixth spot in the Super Grand Prix Meet in Madrid on Saturday night.In her second Grand Prix meet, the 26-year-old Chennai-based Customs Preventive Officer failed to adjust her run up and made three fouls as she cleared 6.54 metres in the sixth and final attempt. It was three centimetres more than her previous performance at last week’s meet in Rome. After an opening foul jump, Anju cleared 6.44 and then again made two invalid jumps. Her subsequent two jumps were 6.52 and 6.54.‘‘I just couldn’t get my strides right in the changing wind and lost a good chance,’’ she said on the phone after the event. ‘‘Two of my foul jumps were invalid by less than a centimeter but close to 6.80 metres,’’ she added. One may accept Anju’s argument and defend the Asian Games gold medallist, considering she is changing her run up from 21-stride to 16.But she needs to adjust fast to the new stride pattern, suggested by her coach Mike Powell in view of the World Championship next month. Powell was present at the pit-side when Anju was jumping. Anju said ‘‘Mike was not disappointed and has made certain observations that I will carry out in my next competition.’’Anju can also take consolation from the fact that a total of 10 participants made 22 foul jumps. Only two jumpers had valid attempts in the first round. But then it was left to the oldest and the most experienced Inessa Kravets of Ukraine to quickly adapt to the adverse conditions and produce a winning jump of 6.76 metres in her fifth attempt.Anju’s next stopover will be at Stockholm where she will take part in the DN Galan meet on August 5.
