Anju Bobby George targets London Olympics

BANGALORE: Former World Championship bronze medallist Anju Bobby George has resumed training after a long sabbatical and is now working towards qualifying for next year's London Olympics.
Anju, who recorded her personal best of 6.83m at the Athens Olympics in 2004, returned to her workouts a few months back and is slowly increasing the intensity after celebrating the first birthday of her son Aaron.
Anju said she and her husband Robert Bobby George still have got their focus on the Olympics though the current build-up has not reached the desired levels.
"We were targeting to make a comeback at the Open Nationals in September but our workouts didn't go according to plan. Now we are thinking of returning to action early next season," Anju, who also takes her son to the training ground, told TOI.
Bobby George was quietly confident that Anju, who will be 35 plus going into the Olympics, would be able to recapture her best form.
"I don't want to make any big claims but so far she has come a long way on her endurance and fitness levels. The only thing that is yet to be tested is her speed and explosive power," Bobby said.
"The London qualification mark will be in the region of 6.65-7.5m region and an athlete should attain the mark at least 30 days before the start of the athletics competition," Bobby said while acknowledging that the seasoned campaigner has to improve on her personal best to be competitive in 2012.
Once the IAAF, athletics world body, firms up plans for the 2012 season by October-November, Anju can chalk out a clear path to London.
Anju, who touched a career-high world ranking of No. 4, last competed at the Beijing Olympics where she crashed out in the first round. The celebrated athlete, who was India's flag-bearer at the IAAF circuit for long, has won every other medal including in World Athletics Final, Commonwealth and the Asian Games.