Dibaba deals Ethiopia medal blow

Ethiopian world medal hopes were dealt a further blow yesterday when Olympic champion and world record holder Tirunesh Dibaba pulled out of the women's 5,000m. Dibaba, a two-time world champion over the 5,000m (2003 and 2005) who is also the Olympic...

Ethiopian world medal hopes were dealt a further blow yesterday when Olympic champion and world record holder Tirunesh Dibaba pulled out of the women's 5,000m.

Dibaba, a two-time world champion over the 5,000m (2003 and 2005) who is also the Olympic 10,000m champion, had already pulled out of the longer race last weekend after suffering from an ankle injury all season.

Turkey's Ethiopian-born double Olympic silver medallist Elvan Abeylegesse, who pulled up during the 10,000m race, also failed to start the 5,000m.

It was instead Dibaba's arch-rival and compatriot Meseret Defar, the reigning world champion, who set the fastest qualifying time, winning her heat in 15min 15.45sec.

She will be accompanied in Saturday's final by a trio of team-mates - Sentayeju Ejigu, Meselech Melkamu and Genzebe Dibaba.

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