India's hopes of claiming another medal in the track and field events were dented when Anju Bobby George finished sixth in the women's long jump competition at the 18th Commonwealth Games in Melbourne on Friday.
Anju, world ranked five, managed a best effort of 6.54m, her best leap this season, in her third attempt at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
Local favourite Bronwyn Thompson was way ahead of the field and set a new Games record of 6.97m to take the gold medal. In fact, her four valid jumps were way better than anything the rest of the competitors could manage.
Apart from the winning leap, Thompson cleared 6.91, 6.93 and 6.83 to dominate the final in front of an adoring home crowd.
As Thompson's longest jump was considerably better than Anju's personal best of 6.83m attained at the Athens Olympics, the Indian had realistic chances of finishing second or third.
"The preparation did not go well for me. Bronwyn had done so well in her second attempt itself (6.97m for gold medal) that I hoped to get a silver," a disappointed Anju later told reporters.
The world number five also said that she had not got into her best rhythm yet.
