Wednesday, August 16 2006 11:19 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Beijing: Indian athletes fail to shine on the first day of the IAAF World Junior Championships and bow out of their events in the heats itself here today (15 Aug, 2006).

Poovamma M R brings up the rear in Heat 4 of the women's 400m in a time of 56.39 seconds to get eliminated at the first stage.

Virender K Pankaj gives a much better account of himself, finishing a commendable third in Heat 2 of the men's 400m in a time of 47.60 seconds.

However, he misses advancing to the next round of competition by a slender margin as South Africa's Alvin Samuels makes it with a time of 47.49 secs.

The first two of each heat and the eight fastest runners qualify to go further in the competition.

In Heat 6 of the same event, V B Bineesh finishes fifth clocking 48.60 secs.

In the men's 800m, Sajeesh Joseph finishes sixth in Heat 6 with a time of 1:51.48 as does Jhuma Khatun in Heat 2 of the corresponding women's event in 2:12.31 secs.