Viet Nam's speedwalker Nguyen Thi Thanh Phuc.—File Photo

HA NOI (VNS)—Viet Nam's speedwalker Nguyen Thi Thanh Phuc finished at the World Athletics Championships in Moscow yesterday, but failed to set a new personal best.

Phuc finished 48th out of the 62 athletes with a time of 1hr 36.27 in the women's 20km walk. The time was not as good as what she recorded at her two most recent big events. At the Asian championships in March, Phuc finished with a time of 1:35.26, which brought her a silver medal. Earlier at the London Olympics, the Da Nang City-born girl set her personal best of 1:33.36.

Phuc was the only athlete from Viet Nam to take part in the world championships this year.

Russia's Olympic champion Elena Lashmanova took gold, clocking 1:25.02 in strength sapping conditions. Her teammate Anisya Kirdyapkina won silver with 1:25.09 and China's Liu Hong claimed bronze on 1:25.46. — VNS