Jelimo, Obiri win world indoor women's race

ISTANBUL, Sunday

Kenyan Pamela Jelimo, in her first international competition in four years, won the world indoor women's 800m title here on Sunday.

Hellen Onsando Obiri also won the world indoor women's 3000m title in 8min 37.16sec to deprive Ethiopian Meseret Defar of a fifth consecutive title.

Defar had to be content with silver in 8:38.26, with team-mate Gelete Burka taking bronze (8:40.18).

Jelimo, whose career since that Beijing win has been blighted by injury, timed 1min 58.83sec for gold, Ukraine's Nataliia Lupu taking silver in 1:59.67, with American Erica Moore claiming bronze (1:59.97).

"These last three years, with my injury were a disaster for me," said Jelimo, who won at the Beijing Games at the tender age of just 18.

"Injuries have a great impact on top athletes.

"It was bad for all of us, my country, my management and me. But I did not give up and my coach motivated me a lot.

"It feels great to be a world champion, it's great to be at the top again. I didn't imagine winning this title." (SEE IN PICTURES: Kenyans light up Istanbul)

Jelimo was content to let Moore race out into the lead, biding her time in a physical run.

"There were a lot of pushes in the last two laps (on the 200m track), but that's okay," she said.

When Lupu pushed, Jelimo switched on the power and accelerated through to control the race through to the line well ahead of Lupu, with Moore scrambling over the line for bronze.

The 22-year-old said she now had one goal firmly set in her mind.

"I have to defend my Olympic title in London," she said. "I hope everything will be okay and I stay healthy."