THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Long jumper MA Prajusha feels she just needs to get a single jump right. A good run up, a fair take off and a bit of luck, is all that she expects to book a ticket for the 2012 London Olympics.
Training under the watchful eyes of Sports Authority of India coach MA George for the past one decade, Prajusha made the cut in the international arena with her silver yielding performance in the Commonwealth Games. There she touched 6.47 m, a little short of her personal best of 6.55m registered at the 2010 Indian Grand Prix held in Bangalore, to grab silver. But gaining an Olympic berth appears an uphill task, which she too acknowledges, as she has to vie with her arch rival Mayookha Johny for the single slot at stake under the B qualification standards.
Incidentally, Mayookha had earlier cleared the distance of 14.10 m mark to qualify for Triple jump. Speaking from the national camp held at LNCPE Kariavattom, Prajusha appeared brimming with confidence regarding qualifying for the mega event.
Though the statistics may tell a different story, but the 24-year-old feels her hard work will pay off. Long jump qualifying mark for Olympics in the B standard is set as 6.65 m, while that of Triple jump is 14.10 m, which is pretty above Prajusha’s personal best.
“In order to take part in the Olympics,I need to qualify before July 8. If I have to ensure my spot, then I should get qualified under A standard (6.75 m). Mayookha has already qualified for Triple jump. So the battle for long jump berth is thrown open,” Prajusha said.
Taking into consideration the current form of Prajusha and the fact that she is recovering from a back injury, the current mark seems a little demanding. But her coach is hoping against the odds. “This is an off season,which we used for building up stamina and technical rectifications. From January middle onwards,foreign tours will start. It will provide her with match experience, to spruce up her talent and confidence. She has got time to qualify for both the events, till July,” he said.
There have been reports that ace jumper Anju Bobby George has been gearing up to to make a comeback by winning an Olympic berth. Anju has been working on her fitness, ready to hit the track for the qualifiers. She is the lone Indian long jumper who had tide over 6.65m mark.
If she can leap to some where close to her personal best of 6.83, eventually she will qualify under A standard. Then the match will be left with Mayookha and Prajusha to decide who will have the final laugh.