Steve Hooker fails to qualify for pole vault

Daegu: World and Olympic champion Steve Hooker failed to qualify for the final of the pole vault at the world championships on Saturday.

The Australian, who has been beset by injuries and only started his season at the end of July, failed three attempts at 5.50 metres in qualifying to bring a premature end to his title defence.Hooker had declared himself fit but out of practice for Daegu, a contrast with his position at Berlin two years ago when he cleared 5.90m with a groin strain to win gold.The 29-year-old Hooker`s leap of 6.06m indoors in the 2009 season was the second highest in history behind retired world record holder Sergei Bubka. Bureau Report