London-bound Sudha fails in Olympics `A` standard attempt

New Delhi: Asian Games gold-medallist Sudha Singh ran a below par 9:53.94s to finish fifth in women`s 3,000m steeplechase in the Bottrop Gala International Meet in Germany. Sudha, who has qualified for London Olympics after crossing the `B` qualification standard last month, was hoping to touch the `A` standard of 9:43.00 but could not do it at Bottrop, a central German town last night.

Inzikuru Dorcus of Uganda won the race in 9:30.95s while Ayana Almaz of Kenya and Kudzelich Svetlana of Belarus were second and third in 9:38.62s and 9:39.43s respectively. National record holder Sudha had crossed the London Games `B` qualification standard of 9:48.00s by clocking 9:47.70s early last month at Huelva in Spain. PTI