Jaisha sets new national record at world athletics

Beijing, Aug 30  O.P. Jaisha and Sudha Singh finished 18th and 19th respectively in the women's marathon at the World Athletics Championships here on Sunday.

The Indians gave a good account of themselves as Jaisha registered a time of two hours, 34 minutes and 43 seconds to set a new national record.

Sudha, who clocked 2:35:35, also did better than the previous national mark of 2:37:29 set by Jaisha at the Mumbai marathon earlier this year.

Lalita Babar, the third Indian in the field, did not start the race. 

The battle for the title saw an exciting finish as Mare Dibaba of Ethiopa beat a strong challenge from Kenya's Helah Kiprop and Eunice Kirwa of Bahrain to take the gold medal with a time of 2:27:35.

Kiprop was hot on her heels with 2:27:36 followed by Kirwa at 2:27:39.