Not thinking of a medal: Manjeet Kaur

Beijing-bound quartermiler Manjeet Kaur, on Wednesday, said she would give her best to help the 4x400m women's relay team better their Athens Olympics performance in next month's Games in the Chinese capital.

Manjeet is one of the Indian women's 4x400m relay team member which booked a ticket for Beijing Olympics after securing 15th position in the latest IAAF rankings following their fine show in the second Asian Grand Prix at Korat in Thailand last month.

"In 2004 Olympics we were juniors in the relay team but still we qualified for the finals," Manjeet told reporters in New Delhi in a felicitation ceremony organised by her sponsor, construction major Omaxe.

"This time we are seniors and have experience behind us. We will definitely try to better our Athens performance in Beijing."

Asked about the team's preparation for the quadrennial event, the Arjuna Awardee said, "Our preparations for the Olympics is moving on the right track.

"For the last few months we were busy training together in the country as well as abroad. We are leaving for Malaysia today for another training stint and from there we will fly straight to Beijing for the Games."

Manjeet, who has also attained the Olympic B qualification mark in 400m, would not promise for a medal and said the quartet will concentrate to do better than the last time.

"The competition will be tough and we are not thinking of medal at this stage. Our main focus is to give our best in Beijing," said the Punjab Police sub-inspector, who bagged a gold (4x400m relay) and a silver (400m) at the Doha Asian Games and a silver (400m) at the Melbourne Commonwealth Games.

"Now we are in the 15th spot in the Olympics relay field, but you never know we might finish in the first four, or on a given day we might come out with a medal," she added.

Earlier in the year, Manjeet got a boost in her preparations for the Olympics when Omaxe gave her Rs.34 lacs to train at VS Athletics Track Club in California under former famous American sprinter Cedric Hill.

"At this time when all sponsors run after cricket, it comes as a big boost for any athlete to get sponsorship.

"We are getting medals in Asia and in Commonwealth, but to win a medal at world level you need support from all quarters of the country," she said.

She added that the financial assistance will help her prepare better for the 2010 Commonwealth Games.

"After the Olympics I will be undergoing special training sessions for a year at California under Hill for the Commonwealth Games."