{image-anju bobby george_19062008.jpg news.oneindia.in}Madurai, Jun 19: Notwithstanding a stint of training programmes abroad, Olympian Anju Bobby George finished below than her previous Meet Record in Women's Long Jump event on the final day of the 48th edition of National Inter-State Senior Athletics Championship-2008 here tonight.

The Tamilnadu-based and Kerala-born athlete Anju, who already qualified for the Beijing Olympics, leapt to a distance of 6.50 m to win the gold. Her previous meet record was 6.53 m. Mayookha Johny of Kerala took the silver with 6.18 m, while Prajusha M.A. of Kerala finished third with 5.97 m. Anju, who got off to a rousing start with a 6.50 m in her first attempt, failed to come good thereafter.

''I did get a good start, but lost the rhythm near the board,'' she told mediapersons immediately after the event.

UNI