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Anju slips in world rankings

Last updated on: July 07, 2004 19:45 IST

Anju Bobby George [ Images ], India's [ Images ] medal hope at the Athens Olympics [ Images ] in August, dropped to No. 5 in the latest world rankings issued by the International Association of Athletics Federations.

The 27-year-old long jumper, who won India its first medal in a World Athletics Championships in Paris last year, moved down from No. 4 with a total ranking score of 1248 points.

Anju, who is preparing for the Olympics by participating in competitions in Europe and America, had finished a disappointing fourth in the Rome Golden Gala on July 2, clearing 6.41 metres.

Making the biggest leap in the rankings is Tatyana Lebedeva [ Images ], the world triple jump champion, who had upset No.1 Tatyana Kotava to win in Rome by clearing 7.01 metres. The Russian, who did not have a ranking earlier, is now No. 2.

Also making it among the top long jumpers is American track queen Marion Jones [ Images ], who is ranked No.6.

The rankings:

1. Tatyana Kotova (Russia [ Images ]) - 1336 points

2. Tatyana Lebedeva (Russia) - 1301

3. Elva Goulbourne (Jamaica) - 1255

4. Eunice Barber (France [ Images ]) - 1251

5. Anju Bobby George (India) - 1248

6. Marion Jones  (USA) - 1242

7. Irina Simagina (Russia) - 1238

8. Olga Rublyova (Russia) - 1233

9. Grace Upshaw  (USA) - 1228

10. Carolina Kluft (Sweden) - 1214.