*A narrow miss for Renjith Maheswary in triple jump and a woeful performance by the 4x400M womens relay team signalled the end of Indian interest at the 14th World Championships in athletics here on Friday.*
Renjith, who has flopped so often in the past on the big stage, erased that blot somewhat with his best performance at the world level. But that was not good enough to carry him past the qualifying stage.
India, deciding not to bring in Ashwini Akkunji and fielding the same team that won the gold at the Asian Championships, finished fifth and last in their semifinal heats, clocking 3:38.81. That timing placed them 15th among the 16 participating teams, just above Botswana.
Renjith had a best of 16.63 metres to tie for the 12th and last qualification spot with Gaetan Saku Bafuanga Baya of France. But on a countback, the Frenchman was placed 12th and Renjith 13th, thus slamming the door on the Indian.
Gaetans second best jump was 16.37 and Renjiths 16.28. That decided the placings.
Renjith had fouled all his jumps at the Daegu World Championships as well as at the London Olympic Games while he was 29th at the 2007 World Championships in Osaka with a 16.38M effort.
"I was really looking forward to doing well here after those misses. It feels sad that I had to miss out by such a narrow margin. I missed the gold at the Asian Championships by one centimetre, and now this," said the 27-year-old, who has been nominated for the Arjuna award this year.
"That was a confidence-booster and also, I had prepared well for this meet. The second jump was okay but I got a bit nervous before the final jump and that spoilt it," said the Commonwealth Games bronze medallist who has a best of 16.98 this season.
Renjith was slated to jump fourth but he was caught off-guard as his turn came quicker than expected, with Nigerian Tosin Oke - tipped to jump first - pulling out. A hurried jump, when he took off from well beyond the board, recorded only 16.08.
The Indian champion then pulled himself together for a 16.63 that raised his hopes.
It seemed Renjith might just make it but Russias Aleksey Fedorov dashed his hopes with a final-round effort of 16.83 to push him to danger zone. An anxious wait ensued before his 13th spot was confirmed, leaving the Indian dejected.
Teddy Tamgho of France led the qualifiers with a 17.41M leap, followed by Yoann Rapinier (17.39), also of France. Olympic champion Christian Taylor of the United States made it with a 17.36 effort.
*Relay girls disappoint*
Indians were badly set back by the leisurely first lap run by Nirmala Sheoran. In a heat featuring United States, Ukraine, Czech Republic and Italy, India were left way behind and despite the best efforts of Tintu Luka, Anu Mariam Jose and M R Poovamma, they could not close the gap.
More than 50 metres separated India from the fourth placed Czech Republic, who clocked 3:30.48. United States topped the heat in 3:25.18 followed by Italy (3:29.62).
The Indian quartet had clocked 3:32.26 at Pune to earn a ticket to Moscow. Even a repeat of that performance would not have taken them through, with Romania claiming the last qualification spot in 3:29.62.
Unofficial splits showed Nirmalas lap as the slowest among the Indians - 58.06 seconds - with the others -- Tintu (52.79), Anu (54.36) and Poovamma (52.96) - doing much better.
India, who had fielded a 15-member team, thus wound up their Moscow show, with Vikas Gowdas seventh place in discus being their best effort here. Reported by Deccan Herald 2 days ago.
Renjith, who has flopped so often in the past on the big stage, erased that blot somewhat with his best performance at the world level. But that was not good enough to carry him past the qualifying stage.
India, deciding not to bring in Ashwini Akkunji and fielding the same team that won the gold at the Asian Championships, finished fifth and last in their semifinal heats, clocking 3:38.81. That timing placed them 15th among the 16 participating teams, just above Botswana.
Renjith had a best of 16.63 metres to tie for the 12th and last qualification spot with Gaetan Saku Bafuanga Baya of France. But on a countback, the Frenchman was placed 12th and Renjith 13th, thus slamming the door on the Indian.
Gaetans second best jump was 16.37 and Renjiths 16.28. That decided the placings.
Renjith had fouled all his jumps at the Daegu World Championships as well as at the London Olympic Games while he was 29th at the 2007 World Championships in Osaka with a 16.38M effort.
"I was really looking forward to doing well here after those misses. It feels sad that I had to miss out by such a narrow margin. I missed the gold at the Asian Championships by one centimetre, and now this," said the 27-year-old, who has been nominated for the Arjuna award this year.
"That was a confidence-booster and also, I had prepared well for this meet. The second jump was okay but I got a bit nervous before the final jump and that spoilt it," said the Commonwealth Games bronze medallist who has a best of 16.98 this season.
Renjith was slated to jump fourth but he was caught off-guard as his turn came quicker than expected, with Nigerian Tosin Oke - tipped to jump first - pulling out. A hurried jump, when he took off from well beyond the board, recorded only 16.08.
The Indian champion then pulled himself together for a 16.63 that raised his hopes.
It seemed Renjith might just make it but Russias Aleksey Fedorov dashed his hopes with a final-round effort of 16.83 to push him to danger zone. An anxious wait ensued before his 13th spot was confirmed, leaving the Indian dejected.
Teddy Tamgho of France led the qualifiers with a 17.41M leap, followed by Yoann Rapinier (17.39), also of France. Olympic champion Christian Taylor of the United States made it with a 17.36 effort.
*Relay girls disappoint*
Indians were badly set back by the leisurely first lap run by Nirmala Sheoran. In a heat featuring United States, Ukraine, Czech Republic and Italy, India were left way behind and despite the best efforts of Tintu Luka, Anu Mariam Jose and M R Poovamma, they could not close the gap.
More than 50 metres separated India from the fourth placed Czech Republic, who clocked 3:30.48. United States topped the heat in 3:25.18 followed by Italy (3:29.62).
The Indian quartet had clocked 3:32.26 at Pune to earn a ticket to Moscow. Even a repeat of that performance would not have taken them through, with Romania claiming the last qualification spot in 3:29.62.
Unofficial splits showed Nirmalas lap as the slowest among the Indians - 58.06 seconds - with the others -- Tintu (52.79), Anu (54.36) and Poovamma (52.96) - doing much better.
India, who had fielded a 15-member team, thus wound up their Moscow show, with Vikas Gowdas seventh place in discus being their best effort here. Reported by Deccan Herald 2 days ago.