All eyes on Anju, Seema at final leg of Asian Grand Prix

Pune, May 24 (UNI) All eyes will be on ace long jumper Anju Bobby George and Commonwealth silver medallist Seema Anthil as curtain rises on the final leg of the Asian Grand Prix athletic extravaganza at the Baburao Sanas ground here on May 26.

Anju will not only be looking to avenge her defeat against Olga Rypakova of Kazakhstan in the second leg at Banglore, but she will also set her eyes on going for a record.

Asian Games gold medallist Anju, who finished a disappointing seventh in the Qatar Super Grand Prix and then pulled out of the Bangkok Grand Prix held on May 18 due to a heel injury, had made a bold bid at Bangalore on Monday but had to rest content with a silver. Olga took the gold.

Anju had announced after the Bangalore meet that she will participate in the final leg at Pune. Considering a modest field, it may be easy for Anju to win a gold even if she manages to jump 6.43 meters -- the distance she attained in Doha.

Seema missed the Bangkok and Bangalore meets due to a back injury, but will be seen in action in Pune, according to Asian Athletic Association (AAA) president Suresh Kalmadi who is also the city MP. Mahan Singh and Pinki Pramanik, who had performed exceptionally well at Bangkok and Bangalore, will be going all out to complete a hat-trick each. The Indian Railways ace long jumper Mahan had won the gold at Bangkok and Bangalore. Pinki too had monopolised the women's 400 meters race at both the meets.

Barring a few like World No. 4 Anju Bobby George and Chinese veteran hurdler Feng Yun, most athletes from Asia have decided to stay away from the meet, yet a keen contest is expected.

Men's 400 meters dash will be an event to watch as Busan Asian Games gold medalist Fawzi-Al-Shammani of Kuwait, who finished last at Bangkok, will be looking to regain his form ahead of the World Championship and the Asian Games later this year. He missed the second leg at Bangalore.

UNI IS MAZ PDS DB2045