Sumaira last in 1500m heats

Published August 26, 2004

ATHENS, Aug 25: Sumaira Zahoor completed a wretched Olympic campaign for Pakistan when she finished last in the 1500-metre heats on Tuesday.

Sumaira, competing in the final of the three heats, achieved the slowest time among 44 competitors who finished the event, clocking a lethargic four minutes 49.33 seconds -- still 35.97 seconds behind the second last finisher -- Tatiana Borisova of Kyrgystan who timed four minutes 13.36 seconds - in the heat in which Sumaria competed.

Three girls, Bouchra Ghezielle of Morocco, Algeria's Nouria Merah Benida (both in heat 1) and Rosa Saul of Angola (heat 3), did not start while Ukraine's Iryna Lishchnska failed to finish heat 2. The first in all three heats along with nine fastest losers qualified for the semifinals. -Agencies