Lalita Babar, who smashed the national record in the 3000m steeplechase (heats) in the ongoing IAAF World Championships at Bird's Nest in Beijing, led for the majority of the finals, before the rest of the field caught up and consigned the Indian to eighth place.
But, one has to give credit to Babar, who set the pace from the start, before having to move back as the favourites took conrol towards the end. With 2 laps remaining, the favourites such as Habiba Ghribi, Sofia Assefa, Hyvin Kiyeng Jepkemoi began to close in on Babar, who had to concede the lead to these champion runners.
The last 200m of the race produced a great finish as Jepkemoi managed to win the gold medal with a timing of 9m.19.11 and Ghibri finished with 9m.19.24 to win silver. However it was Germany's Gesa Krause, who was the only European in the 3000m Steeplechase final, who took home the bronze.
India's Lalita Babar finished an impressive eighth, with a timing of 9.29.64.
The women's 3000m steeplechase was followed by the men's 400m finals, which was the last event of on Wednesday.
With an array of top-class runners such as defending champion LaShawn Merritt and the Olympic gold medalist Kirani James amongst others in the men's 400m final, the competition was expected to be top notch and the athletes did not disappoint.
It was the youngster from South Africa -- Wayde Van Niekerk -- who ran an amazing race to walk away with the gold medal as he finished crossed the line with a brilliant time of 43.48secs. Van Niekerk was out of the blocks swiftly and the South African did not look back, though he was challenged in the final 100m of the race by Merritt and James.
Van Niekerk's performance should not come as a huge surprise, as the 23-year-old has been consistently good this season. The South African even eclipsed his personal best this season of 43.96 to defeat former Olympic champions in the 400m finals at the Bird's Nest.
LaShawn Merritt, who finished with 43.65secs, won silver and James took bronze in 43.78s. Isaac Makawala, who had put up a splendid performance during the semifinals, could not turn up the heat in the finals as he finished in fifth position.
Click here to watch women's 300m steeplechase and Men's 400m final highlights.
