Looking ahead to the challenges of a new season, India's ace long jumper Anju Bobby George says she could become the top-ranked athlete in the world in her chosen discipline.
"It is my goal to be number one in the world and I think this is a distinct possibility," Anju said, as she geared up for the new year after a glorious 2005.
"I am always trying to improve and all my efforts are intended to climb up the ladder in the international rankings," the lanky Kerala athlete, currently ranked fourth in the women's long jump standings of the International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF), said.
Anju and her husband and coach Bobby George leave for Johannesburg, South Africa, later in the day to avail better practice facilities ahead of a grueling schedule.
A 40-member Indian contingent is already in South Africa and Anju would join them in preparation for the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, slated for March.
The bronze medallist at the 2002 Games in Manchester was previously scheduled to practice in the Australian city but changed plans considering the time difference with European venues that will host major athletics competitions in the next couple of months.
"We have the World Indoor Championships from March 10-12 in Moscow and going to Russia from Australia would take up a lot of time. Johannesburg is much closer," said Anju, whose training stint in South Africa would last six weeks.
2005 was a landmark year for Anju as she won the gold medal at the Asian Athletics Championships at Incheon, South Korea, and then made history by claiming silver at the World
Athletics Finals in Monaco in September.
Incidentally, she was the first Indian to qualify for the season-finale on the IAAF calendar.
This year will see Anju compete in a large number of world events in Asia and Europe, but the long jumper is not getting ahead of herself.
"After the Commonwealth Games, we have the World Cup and the World Athletics Finals and the Asian Games in Doha, but I am taking it one event at a time," she said.
"All these events will have the cream of the world athletics stage competing and, hence, will afford tough competition. These events need to be taken very seriously."
Anju said she is hopeful of breaking the seven metre barrier and it would happen soon.
"I am working towards that goal. One cannot be certain but, hopefully, it will come at the right time. We are thinking positive," she said, hinting that it could happen at the Commonwealth Games.
But she does not feel that clearing seven metres is essential to achieve the number one spot.
"One needs to win at the various competitions where the elite athletes take part. Consistency is the key factor," the 28-year-old said.
Anju, who took a well-deserved break at the end of last season before resuming practice, said she is happy with the progress she has made.
"I have a good technique and see no need to make any significant changes. But there is always room for improvement and we are always trying something new," she said.
The Sports Ministry has promised to finance her training stints abroad. Her name did not figure in the list of athletes that are already in South Africa as she was supposed to train in Australia.
Anju was unsure whether her schedule would allow her to compete at the various domestic events in India before the Commonwealth Games.
Apart from the Federation Cup, which will serve as the final selection trials, there are two circuit meets, one in Delhi in on February 15 and another in Patiala on February 19.
"I am trying to compete at the Federation Cup, but I am not certain if I can manage to be there," she said.
