India's best prospect at the 2004 Olympics — long jumper Anju George — discovered her form in style today. The Paris World Championship bronze medallist won the gold in the event at the Qatar Super Grand Prix in Doha with a jump of 6.82 metres — her best mark so far and a new National record. Anju had won the bronze at the world meet with a jump of 6.70 but her personal best was 6.74m which was however set in home conditions. However Anju’s powerful display at Doha — it’s timely and a proof that she is gradually peaking for Athens — had removed doubts afte she finished fourth at the Osaka GP last week. At the Qatar meet, Anju was way ahead of he competitors — Latvian Valentina Gotovska finished behind her with a jump of 6.70m while Poland’s Malgorzata Trybanska was third at 6.57 metres. Anju, ranked seventh in the world before the Qatar meet is hoping to win India’s first medal in athletics at the Olympics and she plans to take part in several international meets in the run-up to Athens. Anju’s next competition would be in the Netherlands on May 31.
