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 [ Images ].

Sudha, who has qualified for London [ Images ] Olympics [ Images ] 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.