Anju finishes 9th at World Championship

OSAKA: Anju Bobby George was nowhere near her season's best, let alone personal best, and the lanky long jumper cleared 6.53m to finish a disappointing ninth in the final of the World Championship here on Tuesday.

The lone Indian athlete to make it to the final of the World Championship for the third time, Anju cut a sorry figure today and her show was well below her personal best of 6.83m which came at the 2004 Athens Olympics and her season's best of 6.65m.

The Indian could clear just 6.10m in her first effort before fouling her next jump. It was in her third attempt that Anju managed 6.53m, which was even below than her 6.60m effort in yesterday's qualifying round.