India's middle-distance runner Tintu Luka produced her season's best timing of 1:59.69secs in the women's 800m semi-finals but it was hardly enough to give her berth in the final of the event at the London Olympics on Friday.
The 23-year-old Kerala runner did reasonably well compared to some other Indian athletes who have been terribly disappointing, but lacked firepower to beat some of the best athletes in the world.
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Luka initially tried to match her fancied opponents and maintained fourth position, but gradually dropped behind and eventually finished sixth in the second semi-final.
The Indian did not have enough stamina to go all out in the home stretch unlike the others who put in a lot in the final burst.
Luka improved upon her season's best timing of 2.01.09s, but it was well behind her personal best of 1:59.17s.
She had qualified for the women's semi-finals on Thursday after finishing third in heat two, clocking 2:01.75s.
South Africa's Caster Semenya qualified for the final from heat two with a season's best effort of 1:57.67secs along with Russia's Elena Arzhakova (1:58.13s).
The top two in each of the three heats and the two fastest losers advanced to the final.
