Paris, Aug 26: Asian Games discus champion Neelam Jaswant Singh, who created history becoming the first Indian to qualify for the final of a world athletic championship, put up a disappointing show in the medal round finishing 12th among 13 finalists. The 32-year-old Indian, who produced her season's best effort of 60.33m to go past the automatic qualifying mark of 60m to reach the final, faltered in the final managing only a best of 57.92m here last evening.
Only two of her six attempts were measured and Neelam's best result came on her third attempt after fouling her first throw and recording a poor 54.42m on the second try. Her last three efforts were not measured.
The gold medal went to Irina Yatchenko of Belarus (67.32m) while Anastasma Kalesmdou with a hurl of 67.14m bagged the silver. The bronze was won by Greece's Ekatermni Voggoli (66.73m).
The trio upset defending champion and world No. 1 Natalya Sadova of Russia who finished sixth after heading the field going into the final.
Bureau Report