Isinbayeva loses indoor crown as Murer captures gold in Doha

From David Jordan, Sportsbeat, in Doha

YELENA Isinbayeva lost her second world pole vault crown in two seasons as Brazil's Fabiana Murer captured gold at the World Indoor Athletics Championships in Doha.

DISAPPOINTMENT: World record holder Yelena Isinbayeva loses her grip on the world indoor title as Brazil's Fabiana Murer strikes gold (Getty Images)

The Russian world record holder was going for an unprecedented fifth consecutive title but, just as in last summer's World Championships, fell short at 4.75m as Murer continued until 4.85m.

The Brazilian has shown good form this season, raising the South American record to 4.82m at the Aviva Grand Prix in Birmingham but Isinbayeva was comfortably the world leader having jumped 4.85m on two occasions and come close to toppling her indoor world record of 5.00m.

Complacency had cost the Russian her outdoor title in Berlin last summer as she waited until 4.75m to enter the final and promptly failed to register a score, with Poland's Anna Rogowska claiming gold.

The 27-year old nearly suffered the same fate in qualifying in Doha, needing a third attempt to clear her entry height of 4.55m, she made sure the same wouldn't happen in the final as she entered the fray with a comfortable clearance of 4.60m.

But having passed 4.65m and 4.70m, the Russian met her match once again in 4.75m, meaning she leaves Doha empty-handed after finishing fourth on countback.

And Isinbayeva admitted she was at a loss to explain her indifferent form in Doha.

"I really don't know what happened," said the Russian. "Maybe I was too tired emotionally. It looks like 2009 and 2010 are bad for me."

Murer also had her problems at 4.75m, but finally cleared at the third attempt and promptly sailed over 4.80m to upgrade from her bronze in Valencia two years ago.

And the Brazilian paid tribute to Isinbayeva after claiming the biggest win of her career.

"This is just a dream come true," said Murer, who occasionally trains with the Russian.

"I knew it would be difficult with all the world's top women here but I was just the best out there today.

"I learn a lot from Yelena. Her strength and how she trains. And this medal just gives me the energy to keep training hard and improving."

Russia's former champion Svetlana Feofanova also seized the chance to upstage her decorated teammate and captured silver with a third effort clearance of 4.80m while Rogowska also jumped 4.70m on her second attempt to strike bronze.

Meanwhile, USA's Brittney Reese added the world indoor long jump title to her outdoor crown from Berlin.

The 23-year old's first effort of 6.70m was good enough for the win while Portugal's defending champion Naide Gomes settled for silver with her first effort of 6.67m.

Brazil's Keila Costa and Estonia's Ksenija Balta both jumped 6.63m but the Brazilian was awarded the bronze medal after reaching the distance twice.

Belarus' Nadzeya Astapchuk set a championship record of 20.85m to win the women's shot put competition in Doha.

The 29-year old struck silver behind New Zealand's Valerie Vili in Valencia two years ago but turned the tables on the Kiwi in the ASPIRE Dome.

Vili clinched silver with an area record of 20.49m while Ostapchuk's compatriot Natallia Mikhnevic struck bronze on 20.42m.