Due To "Super Shoes" Many New Records Will Be Broken In Track & Field Events: Anju Bobby George

The new national record set in the ongoing Federation Cup in athletics in Calicut (Kerala) by the Olympian long jumper M. Sreeshankar has hit the headlines, and gone viral on social media. Besides this, the world-class distance of 8.37 meter (with wind speed +4.1m/s) by Jeswin Aldrin and NR jump of 8.36m produced in the duel between Sreeshankar and Aldrin has also surprised many sports fans in India. In an exclusive chat with NDTV's Vimal Mohan, Anju Bobby George, India's first-ever bronze medalist long jumper at the World Championships (Paris, 2003) and Senior Vice President of Athletics Federation of India, explains the factors behind this success and also talks about the role of 'the super shoes' which is helping the athletes across the world.

Question: How do you evaluate the performances of M Sreeshankar and Jeswin Aldrin. What could be the factors behind these world-class performances? Isn't it also pleasing and amazing that all the three medalists cleared the 8-meter mark?

Anju Bobby George: No doubt these are fantastic performances by these long jumpers. I congratulate all the medal winners. Another big thing is that Sreeshankar and Jeswin Aldrin will get a chance to participate in the athletics World Championships (15-24 July, USA). But to put things in perspective, it is also due to the new spikes featuring carbon fibre plates or the 'super shoes' used by these athletes that we are witnessing these top-class performances.

Question: But these spikes are legal and athletes even used them in the Tokyo Olympics..

Anju Bobby George: Absolutely. Athletes across the world are using it. In the Tokyo Olympics athletes were given permission to use it. These spikes featuring carbon plated soles give stability to the