One of the most promising athletes in India today, 19-year-old woman's long jumper Shaili Singh after wowing many, is now seeking to break her mentor Anju Bobby George's national record of 6.83m, which has stood for 19 years. She nearly broke the record in April, when Shaili jumped 6.76m, the second-longest distance by an Indian woman.
In an interview after the women's long jump qualifying round which was held at Bhubaneswar, Orissa, on Sunday, Shaili said, "Anju madam says I can break her record since I am very near to it (7cm short) and she wants that to happen this year. She says I am in that range, and so I feel I can do it."
MORE: Latest sports betting and odds
During the long jump qualifying round Shaili reached the final stage by finishing third with a best of 6.27m, behind Kerala jumpers Ancy Sojan (6.49m) and Nayana James (6.31m).
Shaili is hoping to do even better on Monday, during the final. She has already breached the Asian Games qualifying mark with that 6.76m jump in Bengaluru in April and 6.65m effort while finishing third at the prestigious Seiko Golden Grand Prix in Japan last month.
"I tried to cross 6.45m (Asian Games qualifying mark), but it did not happen. But I am still happy, I will improve in the final. The conditions are difficult but the target given to me by my coach is to do better than the 6.76m that I had done in Bangalore in April," said the 19-year-old long jumper.
Currently, Shaili is being mentored by George's husband Robert George at the Anju Bobby George Sports Foundation in Bengaluru.