Isinbayeva wins pole vault, misses indoor world record

MOSCOW, Mar 11 (Reuters) Olympic champion Yelena Isinbayeva retained her world indoor title today despite just missing out on her 20th world record.

With the gold medal already secured and former pole vault great Sergei Bubka, now Isinbayeva's personal advisor, watching from the stands, the Russian failed to clear 4.93 metres, two centimetres higher than her current indoor mark.

Isinbayeva won after going over 4.80 on her first attempt.

Poland's Olympic bronze medallist Anna Rogowska, who attempted to break Isinbayeva's world indoor record last week, had to settle for silver by clearing 4.75.

Russia's former world champion and Olympic silver medallist Svetlana Feofanova, who was making her international comeback after being sidelined since the 2004 Athens Games with a back injury, won bronze with 4.70, her best vault of the season.

REUTERS KD HT2342