Mumbai:
Olympic gold medalist British heptathlete and javelin thrower Tessa Sanderson on Wednesday advised Indian women to follow the footsteps of long jumper Anju Bobby George if they want to shine at the international level.
"The reason why India hasn't produced medal winning female athletes is because there haven't been many women (at the top level). (Anju) Bobby George has set a precedent. We should now see more of that," Sanderson told reporters here.
Sanderson, who won gold in javelin throw in 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles, said she was impressed by some of the up and coming Indian female athletes.
"I have seen some athletes coming to UK like Surender (Kumar) and Preeja (Shridharan). The confidence is there. They have to say that there are women who have done it before and we can do it too," she said.
Sanderson recalled how while celebrating her gold medal victory in 1984 she had almost crossed over to a track where a race involving Carl Lewis was still on.
"I remember Carl Lewis running the race and the official kept telling me to stay off the track. But it was my moment, he (Lewis) didn't stop for me, I didn't care," she said.
"The reason why India hasn't produced medal winning female athletes is because there haven't been many women (at the top level). (Anju) Bobby George has set a precedent. We should now see more of that," Sanderson told reporters here.
Sanderson, who won gold in javelin throw in 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles, said she was impressed by some of the up and coming Indian female athletes.
"I have seen some athletes coming to UK like Surender (Kumar) and Preeja (Shridharan). The confidence is there. They have to say that there are women who have done it before and we can do it too," she said.
Sanderson recalled how while celebrating her gold medal victory in 1984 she had almost crossed over to a track where a race involving Carl Lewis was still on.
"I remember Carl Lewis running the race and the official kept telling me to stay off the track. But it was my moment, he (Lewis) didn't stop for me, I didn't care," she said.
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