145;Strong fields don146;t worry me anymore146;

Olympic Games medal-hope Anju Bobby George faces one of the biggest challenges of her career at the Golden Spike Meet at Ostrava in the Czec...

Olympic Games medal-hope Anju Bobby George faces one of the biggest challenges of her career at the Golden Spike Meet at Ostrava in the Czech Republic on Tuesday.

The Ostrava meet is part of the Super Grand Prix programme of the International Association of Athletics Federations IAAF. Anju8217;s rivals in the classy field are the three medallists of the Olympic Games in Sydney 8212; Heike Drechsler, Fiona May and Marion Jones in that order 8212; and Paris World Championship silver-medallist Tatyana Kotova. Other top jumpers include Briton Jade Johnson and Hungarian Tunde Vaszi.

8216;8216;I am not unduly afraid of a strong field any more,8217;8217; said a confident Anju upon reaching Ostrava on Saturday afternoon. Anju8217;s confidence reflects the boost she got from a winning jump of 6.80 metres at the Qatar Grand Prix in Doha on May 14.

Her effort was wind assisted and has not been ratified as a national record yet, but the leap gave her a tremendous high. 8216;8216;No, I am not afraid of Marion Jones or anyone,8217;8217; she said from Ostrava even as a dull and rainy weather welcomed her in the Czech city.

8216;8216;The government8217;s callous attitude and problems at home are past now and we are focussing on the Olympics,8217;8217; said Anju8217;s coach and husband Bobby. 8216;8216;We want to prove that we can perform well despite these odds.8217;8217;

The pressure on Anju will be severe at Ostrva. It is not just participation that matters, because she has to win a couple of such events to be a serious contender for a medal at Athens.

The Press Chief of the Ostrava meet 8212; Karel Tejkal 8212; is excited about having Anju in the city. 8216;8216;A unique feature of the competition,8217;8217; he says to Anju8217;s participation. She is the first Indian who is taking part in the meet which started in 1981.

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The women8217;s long jump meet record of 7.00 metres stands in the name of Eva Murkova since 1984. 8216;8216;Who knows tomorrow you may find Anju8217;s name there,8217;8217; Tejkal says.

After the Czech Republic, Anju will return to Paris where she has made her base for the Olympic preparations.

Then she will travel to the US for the Steve Prefontaine Classic on June 19 and then back to Europe to take part in the Norwich Union Super Grand Prix at Gateshead on June 27.