E-Paper
Predictable end to a promising start
"Yes, I have failed my country.", said Anju Bobby George after the end of the long jump event. Though she did break the national record she was not happy with that.
Anju Bobby George looked a picture of concentration as she stood at the start of the long jump track, both arms on hips, waiting for the 4x400m women's relay to get over at the main Olympic Stadium on Friday night. That race over, she got ready, crouched into position, brushed back a strand of hair, took a deep breath, clenched her right fist, said a silent prayer and was off.
It was almost a perfect jump and just the start she was looking for. She got out of the sandpit, looked up at her husband and coach Bobby George, nodded and then pointed to the board -- she had hit the board with about 10cm to spare.
The screen flashed 6.83m but Anju's face betrayed little emotion. The national record was not what she was there for. She knew the grind has just begun; it was going to be a long night, a night full of promise. An hour later, it was all over. The dream of a medal had died with the first jump.
After 6.83, Anju simply lost her way. She kept slipping and did not know why. From 6.83, she was down to 6.75 and then had a foul jump on her third attempt. She missed a step midway through the runway and simply ran into the pit. She knew that three Russians Tatyana Lebedeva, Irina Simigina and Tatyana Kotova had crossed the seven-metre mark by then and that she needed one great jump to stay alive.
But she failed to lift herself from there. She looked tense and desperate and never recovered from there. It all fell apart -- 6.68 in her fourth, 6.61 in her fifth and a foul in the sixth and final attempt. The first jump was good enough for the sixth spot, the Russians making it a 1-2-3 affair.
"I don't know what happened. I felt giddy and uneasy after the first jump. It was very windy outside... maybe some pollution. I don't know, I just didn't feel good out there." Anju said later in the mixed zone. "It just went going down after the first jump," she added. "Yes, I could feel a bit of wobbling after hitting the board. Maybe, there was something wrong with the spikes. I don't know."
Was she thinking of a medal after the first jump? "I knew it was a tough field, one of the toughest in recent times. I was just trying to concentrate, not thinking of a medal."
Was she happy with the national record? "No I'm not happy with the national record. I came here for something else." Then came the nasty one. "The whole nation was praying for you...would you say you have failed your country?"
She flinched and then said with a shrug, head down, "Yes, I have failed my country." The effort was getting a bit too much for her.You could see she was trying hard to smile, trying hard to control her tears. You could see she just wanted to get away from it all. But it was a cruel night.
Do you realise you have lost your best opportunity? Will you come back at Beijing 2008? Any plans for retirement?
"We will get back home on September 5 and make plans. I know I can still get better. I will be taking part in Europe next month, just waiting for confirmations. Beijing, I don't know. Four years is a long time."
She forced a smile and moved away, even as a latecomer rushed towards her, shouting, "Anju how are you feeling?"
