By Indian standards, it is heartening to see that country’s top eight runners in the men’s 10,000m have clocked below 30 minutes in 2007. Surender Kumar Singh has clocked the best time of 28:57.90. But it is nearly three minutes slower then the best at the international level. Hurdler Joseph Abraham had a good season, clocking 49.51 in Osaka world championships, a national record.

In women’s discus throw, heptathlon and 400m - the AFI’s choices for the Olympics - top athletes need to dig deep into their reserve to showcase their talent.

Once considered to be AFI’s blue-eyed girl - Manjeet Kaur, in 400m, is performing way below expectations. Her best in 2007 was 53.65, which is far below her personal best of 51.05. The best among them now is Chitra K Soman with a time of 53.01.

In women’s discus, Krishna Poonia’s performance in the year-ending Open Nationals in Jamshedpur was as lowly as 52.34m. Her best this season was 58.80m.

Surprisingly, middle distance runner Pinki Pramanik is leading the 100m runners in India — her best being 11.75 seconds.