Abakumova snatches gold in women's javelin throw at Daegu

Olympic silver medalist Maria Abakumova from Russia snatched her first world javelin title here on Friday with a championships record of 71.99 meters, which recorded the world leading mark this year and her personal best. The javelin throw final saw a fierce battle for the gold medal in five minutes when the 25-year-old Russian made the massive winning throw right after the world record holder Barbora Spotakova from the Czech Republic produced 71.58m in her fifth attempt to overtake Abakumova's then-leading mark of 71.25m. With her personal season best mark, the 30-year-old former world champion took the silver medal. South Africa's Sunette Viljoen refreshed her own African record with a 68.38m effort also in the fifth throw.