Anju Bobby George of India in the Long Jump qualification (© Getty Images)
2003 World championship long jump bronze medallist Anju Bobby George of India will return to international circuit at the 10th South Asian Games which starts in Colombo on Friday (18).
Though the opening ceremony of the eight-nation is scheduled for Friday, the track and field competition of the regional Games will not be begin at Colombo's Sugathadasa Stadium until 23 August, and will until 27 August.
George has overcome a heel injury which has prevented her competing this season since her second place finish (6.46m) at the Asian Grand Prix meeting in Pune on 26 May 2006.
The Indian athletic officials have included the Kerala athlete who was sixth in this year’s Commonwealth Games in their 75-member athletic team for the South Asian Games.
Anju George has decided to make use of the Colombo 2006 Games to test her form and start her preparations for the IAAF World Cup in Athletics and the 15th Asian Games scheduled for later this year.
Thus, the Indian authorities have included George in their athletic team which comprise 40 men, 24 women and 11 officials.
They are scheduled to arrive in Colombo in two batches on August 21 and 22. India's middle and long distance runners will fly out from Bangalore while the rest will take their flight to Colombo from the capital New Delhi. Olympian George's presence will be a morale booster to the Indian team. The competition in Colombo will be a decisive one for George who will have to regain her form fast before important international events lined up for the coming months.
It looked like a regular berth in the IAAF World Cup finals would be a tough task for George unless she comes good in Colombo.
India will not field their full athletic team for the Colombo SA Games. Except for a few experienced athletes, India will basically field a second-string team for the 10th edition of the Games. Pinki Paramanik, who excelled at the 2006 Asian Grand Prix Series will be one of the few seasoned campaigners.
Besides Anju George and Paramanik, the other elite Indian athletes who will be seen in action here are local national record holders Anil Kumar (men's 100m), Hari Sankar Roy (men's High Jump), Anuradha Biswal (women's 100m Hurdles), and Gurmeet Kaur (women's Javelin Throw).
Amongst those prominent athletes missing form the Indian team are women's discus thrower Seema Antil, 400m specialist Manjit Kaur and top middle-distance runner Ghamanda Ram. Team sources said Ram is recovering from hepatitis A.
Dinesh Weerawansa for the IAAF
