In the World Athletics Championships at Beijing, China, Indian athlete Tintu Luka today crashed out in the first round heats of the Women's 800 metres race, but qualified for next year's Rio Olympics. Needing a qualification time of 2 minutes 1 second, the reigning Asian champion and national record holder clocked a season-best of 2 minutes 0.95 seconds to make it to the Olympics. She, however, finished second last in the first of the six heats failing to qualify for the semi-finals of the Championship event. It was Luka's second appearance in the World Championships. She was a semi-finalist in the 2011 edition in South Korea.Meanwhile, Lalita Babar finished eighth in the 3,000 metres steeplechase event. She clocked 9 minutes 29.64 seconds to become the first Indian track athlete to finish in the top eight in a World Championship. So far, only 2 athletes, both from field events — long jumper Anju Bobby George and discus thrower Vikas Gowda — have finished better than Lalita in the Championships.