It has been raining since morning. But unmindful of the weather outside, Anju Bobby George went about her routines with husband-and-coach Robert in tow at her Athletes’ Village room.A bit of yoga, some stretching, light workouts and, of course, some prayers formed part of her indoor routines. She would have indulged in some warm-up and speed training as well but for the weather. Wet and cold conditions had hampered her chances at the Stockholm GP last month where she jumped to her season’s best of 6.47.But, the weather is not the only element she has to contend with; her form and the reputation of her Group B competitors do not give out too many positive signs either.The presence of Russians Irina Simagina and Oksana Udmurtova, who has made waves with her good performances at home, Grance Upshaw of the US and Eunice Barber, who jumped 6.75 yesterday, in her group is a great threat in itself, but the other group has the real cream of the event. Group A has Tatyana Kotova, the Paris silver medallist and bronze winner in Athens besides the Commonwealth gold medal winner in Elva Goulbourne of Jamaica and Cuban Savigne Yargelis, who won silver in triple jump. What hits one immediately after a look at the start list for the morrow is the distance that Anju had been able to go — mere 6.47 metres, and the qualifying mark — 6.65 metres. The other way to make it to the finals is to finish in the top 12, which seems unlikely, given the kind of competition, with a sub-6.65 jump. Neither Anju nor Robert is giving any weight to it. “They don’t mean anything. It all depends on what you do on a particular day,” said Robert.Talking to The Indian Express, Anju said she was very much fit and focussed. “I am ready to give my best shot. The rest is up to God,” she said. Asked if weather would be a problem, she brushed aside the question to say that it was same for every competitor. “It is up to me to do my best. That’s what I am going to do tomorrow,” she added.
