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

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 on Friday.

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.