The arrival of discus thrower Neelam Singh completed the Indian entries at the tenth World Championships that kick off with a colourful two-part opening ceremony at the Olympic Stadium tomorrow. The focus will be on both Anju Bobby George, the bronze medallist in Paris two years ago, and Neelam who finished among the finalists. The third participant, discus thrower Vikas Gowda, is an unknown commodity to many here but could be the dark horse to come out with a sterling performance — at least a place in the finals. However, the Indian camp is upbeat and there are reasons for that. A huge poster at the Athletes’ Village displays Anju’s picture as being the example for all participants to follow: A clean athlete. Anju is the only Indian athlete to hold a WADA passport where there are entries to project her ’cleanliness’ as an athlete. Every test that she has undertaken during a competition, including those random tests, are indicated to prove how clean she has been. That’s an incentive for the rest of the athletes to put up a good show at the meet here. Though Anju may not have performed to her potential in the recent past, including the London Grand Prix (6.41 metres) and Stockholm Grand Prix (6.47), she was confident leading up to her qualifying event on August 9. The qualification mark set for the 27 participants is at 6.65 or the best 12 who will make the finals the following day. Vikas Gowda, who reached a couple of days back, is hopeful of “putting up a good show” following his training programme in North Carolina, where he lives. “I am fit and raring to go. The field is too good and my first target is 63.50 metres, the qualifying distance for the finals.” As for Neelam, she wants to do one better than in Paris. She had been struggling for form off late. “I am in shape and hope to do better. If luck holds, I can even win a medal here,” she said. Watch out for. The lack of enthusiasm among the Finns notwithstanding the organizers have planned a two-part opening ceremony. The first part followed by some events, including two rounds of 100-metre heats, where the focus will be on American Justin Gatlin. The 10,000 metres final tomorrow is where the Ethiopian runners are likely to put up a fine show on long-distance running. The great Haile Gebrselassie era may be over. But the Ethiopian runners are the ones to watch and beat. Leading the team will be Kenenisa Bekele along with teammates Abebe Dinkesa and Sileshi Sihine. But one cannot discount the fact that Abderrahim Goumri of Morocco will be breathing down their necks.
