By N.D. Prashant

Being an Olympic year the world’s best athletes are all pumped up. And the female of the kind as much as their male counterparts.
The star women are leaving no stones unturned in the run-up to the Beijing Games. With the stage set for a grand finale at the Qatar Athletic Super Grand Prix today, an absorbing contest is on the cards in the women’s arena.
All eyes will be set on hot favourite Allyson Felix of the USA in the 100 sprint and the 400 event. Allyson shot into the limelight with her stunning run for silver at the Athens Olympics in 2004. Since then, she is a regular at the Qatar meet and credits her success to the positive starts she has gained here at the start of the season.
“This is my fourth visit to Qatar and I have always kept improving after putting up a bright shoe here. I want to keep that tradition going,” said a beaming Allyson yesterday.
Allyson will not be running here in her speciality event - the 200m event - but in Beijing she wants to have a crack at all three – 100, 200 and the 400.
“Of course, 200 is going to be my top priority but I also want to do well in the other two. That’s why tomorrow I will give a real go at both. The more I learn from the events, the better chance I have of that dream being a reality,” says Allyson, who holds the track record of 50.40 seconds here in the 400m.
As of now, Allyson aims to impress in the trials ahead of the Games.
“I have to keep improving and impress in the trials and make the team for all the three events. I have to do a lot of work before the trails and I’m focused on it,” adds Allyson, who will be challenged by Jamaicans Sherone Simpson and Sheri-Ann Brooks in the 100 dash.
Simpson, the Athens Olympics 4 x 100m relay gold medalist has a personal best of 10.82 seconds in the 100m and is ranked second among the Jamaican women. She won gold in the 200m at the Sydney Athletics Grand Prix clocking 23.44 seconds early this year and is currently on a high.
“I’ve been training hard and am very much looking forward to the challenge here. I was not at my best in the last season but have made ground this year. So yes I am keen to impress,” said Simpson, a silver medalist at the 2005 World Championship in Helsinki.
In the 400 metres, Allyson will be tested by Amantle Montsho of Botswana and Sri Lankan Susanthika Jayasinghe. Both these athletes have shown tremendous progress over the years and will be itching to go all out today.
“I’m happy with the improvement so far and I believe that I can press for more. It will be great if something better happens tomorrow,” said Montsho a gold medalist at the 2007 All African Games. 
For the crowd puller Anju Bobby George, this meet will be nothing less than a test of fire. The Indian long jumper, who managed a silver here in the Qatar Indoor meet in February, has a Herculean task ahead of her, having been pitted against a strong field.
Bronze medalists at Athens, Tatyana Kotova of Russia and Brazilian Keila Costa are the ones to watch out for in this event.
“It’s going to be a real test as some of the world’s best are here. My preparations have gone well but it all depends on how things unfold on the day. In practice, you can get the best results but it only matters if you get it right when it matters the most. Let’s see how it goes,” says Anju, whose personal best is 6.83 metres.
One should also not miss the 1,500m race as you might be seeing the last of legendary athlete Maria de Lurdes Mutola. The 800m Sydney Olympic gold medalist and winner of three World Championship, Mutola is eyeing her last Olympics and is keen to put up a good show.
“I have been fortunate to win almost all the possible medals that were up for grabs but I want to get my best towards the end as well. I will put up a strong show,” says the 36-year-old Mozambican, sporting her broad trademark smile.
Croatian high jumper and world record holder Blanka Vlasic has always got the Doha crowd on their feet with her prolific display. She certainly seems to be all charged up for the event.
“I had a fabulous season last year and Doha offers the prefect relaxed atmosphere, which encourages me to go one step further,” says the Osaka gold medalist, who holds the meet record of 2.04m here.
The 100m hurdles is also expected to be a thriller with World Indoor Champion Lolo Jones in the starting line.
She will be battling it out with compatriots Virginia Powell and Candice Davis.
And, last but not least, the hammer throw will also be a
feature event with Sydney Olympic gold medalist Kamila Skolimowska of Poland, former world record holder Olga Kuzenkova of Russia and World Championship bronze medalist Manuela Montebrun of France in the ranks.