World number four Anju Bobby George is confident of a good showing at the World Indoor Athletics Championship.
"I have worked on my rhythm and landing and they have improved since my last competition. I am happy with the situation now," Anju said from Moscow ahead of Saturday's qualification round in the women's long jump.
The Indian ace warmed up for the championship by claiming the gold medal at the Federation Cup in Delhi with an effort of 6.47 metres, but was not satisfied with her run-up and landing.
She reached the Russian capital a few days back and worked with coach and husband Bobby George to rectify the minor lacunae in her technique.
"My training session has been going well even though I have not been jumping yet," Anju said.
This will be only the third indoor event for Anju after the 2003 World Championships in Birmingham, where she finished seventh, clearing 6.40m, a national indoor record jump, and the Asian Indoor Championships earlier this year where she won the silver medal with a jump of 6.32m.
But she denied that her lack of experience indoors could be a factor in Moscow.
"It does not bother me too much. I am pretty confident of doing well," Anju said.
Even though it is bitterly cold in Moscow, with temperatures falling to minus 10 degree celsius, she said it would not have an adverse effect on her performance as it is an indoor event.
"The weather would not be a problem," she said, adding "the practice tracks at the venue are really good and useful for acclimatisation to the conditions."
Anju expressed confidence about her prospects but when asked about the possibility of claiming a medal, just said, "We will do our best."
She listed world number one Tatyana Kotova and Americans Tianna Madison and Grace Upshaw as her main competitors in Moscow.
The Russian has already jumped 6.91m in Stuttgart while Madison, the US Collegiate champion has leaps of 6.75m and 6.55m to her credit.
Russian Indoor champion Oksana Udmurtova cleared 6.77m at the Moscow nationals.
Anju, who recorded her personal best of 6.83m at the 2004 Athens Olympics, will have to improve on her record this season to challenge for a medal in Russia. She may have to jump close to 6.75m which brought her the silver medal at the World Athletics Finals in Monaco last year.
Naide Gomes (Portugal) with 6.70m, Greece's Stiliani Pilatou, who has twice gone over 6.66m this winter, and Cuba's Yargelis Savigne could also pose a threat.
The entry standard for the event has been set at 6.65m.
There are a total of 19 competitors in the qualification round and only eight will go to the final on Sunday.
"I will look to make it to the finals first and will not go full pelt in the qualifying jumps," Anju, who will next lead India's charge at the Commonwealth Games, added.
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