Failing to repeat her bronze medal-winning performance of the last World Championships in Paris in 2003, Anju Bobby George finished outside the podium in the women's long jump even though she came up with her best effort of the season in the World Athletics Championships in Helsinki, on Wednesday.
The Indian ace improved upon her best of the season, the 6.54 metres she cleared on Tuesday, by coming with a jump of 6.66metres in her first attempt in the final. But that was not enough to earn her a medal.
Tiana Madison of the United States, with a personal best of 6.89 metres, took the gold. Tatyana Kotova (6.79m) of Russia won the silver. The bronze went to Eunice Barber (6.76m) of France.
Anju started on a promising note, recording her best jump of the season in her very first attempt. But her next five jumps were 6.59m, 6.57m, 6.51m, a foul and 6.56m respectively.
Tianna, who started with a foul, came up with the best jump of her life on her fifth attempt to take gold ahead of Tatyana. Yargelis Savgigne was fourth with an effort of 6.69m.
Results:
1. Tianna Madison (United States) 6.89m
2. Tatyana Kotova (Russia) 6.79
3. Eunice Barber (France) 6.76
4. Yargelis Savigne (Cuba) 6.69
5. Anju Bobby George (India) 6.66
6. Oksana Udmurtova (Russia) 6.53
7. Grace Upshaw (United States) 6.51
8. Kelly Sotherton (Great Britain) 6.42
9. Jacqueline Edwards (Bahrain) 6.42
10. Tunde Vaszi (Hungary) 6.32
11. Concepcion Montaner (Spain) 6.32
12. Elva Goulbourne (Jamaica) 6.21.
