Filed under: Other Sports, Athletics
Jessica Ennis was forced to settle for silver medal in Daegu after her gallant failure to become the first GB athlete to defend a world title.Despite entering the second day of the heptathlon with a 151 point lead, her advantage was overhauled by Russia's Tatyana Chernova as her fears of not establishing a big enough advantage after day one were realised.
The reigning World and European champion expected a close contest, despite being regarded as GB's best opportunity for a gold, but now will have to use the pain and disappointment to re-double her efforts in the London Olympics in 12-months time.
"It is still a silver medal in the world championships and if I was going to do this anywhere, then it was here, (Daegu) because next year I want gold," said Ennis.
"Of course I am disappointed, because I came to win the gold medal. I will come back stronger next year."
Chernova eventually triumphed by 249 points over Ennis, with German Jennifer Oeser taking bronze.
Ennis held her advantage after equalling her personal best of 6.51m in the long-jump, but it proved to be the javelin which cost her the title she won in Berlin.
She was unable to get anywhere near her best of 46.71m and Chernova threw a season's best of 52.95m which gave her a commanding advantage going into the final and left Ennis unable to run nine seconds faster than the Russian in the 800m to claim gold.
"The javelin was a big disaster. I will go away and analyse things. My events were solid, but the javelin was a big let down. It has not been like that in the past," she said.
"I gave it everything in the 800 metres and did not leave anything on the track. That was all I could do and it was enough to win me a silver medal," said Ennis.
Ennis' disappointment will now place even more pressure on Dai Greene to take the 400m hurdles gold, after he cruised into the final in impressive style.
Greene won his semi-final and now he and Mo Farah are the only two athletes remaining with a realistic chance to win the one gold medal set as a target by UK Athletics head coach Charles van Commenee.
"I would like to win the gold for the whole country. There are a lot of guys who would like it and it is going to be close," said Greene.
"It is my aim to win gold and I am going to give it everything I have got in the final. I know I am running well and I have to keep that going."
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