PTI
Beijing, Aug 16: Indian athletes failed to shine on the first day of the IAAF World Junior Championships and bowed out of their events in the heats itself here.
Poovamma M R brought 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 gave 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 missed advancing to the next round of competition by a slender margin as South Africa's Alvin Samuels made it with a time of 47.49 secs.
The first two of each heat and the eight fastest runners qualified to go further in the competition.
In Heat 6 of the same event, V B Bineesh finished fifth clocking 48.60 secs.
In the men's 800m, Sajeesh Joseph finished sixth in Heat 6 with a time of 1:51.48 as did Jhuma Khatun in Heat 2 of the corresponding women's event in 2:12.31 secs.