Athletes wait for the starter’s gun

Anju, who begins her medal quest next Wednesday, wound up her training on Friday. ‘‘Now it will be only light jogging’’, Anju said before her final session.

For the first time, an Indian athlete at a top international meet will have several family members present to give encouragement. ‘‘Many of our family members are arriving on August 25’’, Bobby said. ‘‘After the event is over we all want to go to Milan and give Anju a break.’’

OTHERS IN THE FRAY

K M Beenamol: Another star in the Indian camp, Beenamol was expected to reach Athens from Ukraine later tonight. The Asian Games champion was in Ukraine with other Indian athletes on a pre-Olympic training stint.

K M Binu: Binu, drawn on lane three in heat 5, had been tipped to do well following his sub-46-second 400m in Delhi last month. But his heat is tough, including Al Shammari (Kuwait) and Banda Lewis (Zimbabwe), both under-45 runners, Belgian Cedric Branteghem and Carlos Santa.

BOBBY ALLOYSIUS: High jumper Bobby Alloysius as been training in England under Denis Doyle. Incidentally she has spent a fortune to get Doyle to Athens and has also paid for his stay in the city.

But she couldn’t have her husband, Shajan, with her. ‘‘It was a tough choice who to invite and I opted for Doyle’’, she said.

THE DISCUS THROWERS: India has three women discus throwers in the fray. Neelam Jaswant Singh looks the best bet; the Railways athlete is in Group B, along with Seema Antil. The qualifying is 62.50 metres, which both Indians have done. Soma Biswas will also be in action on the opening day. In fact she will be on the field day on two days competing in heptathlon. — NP