OSAKA, Japan (Reuters):

GERMAN POLICEWOMAN Betty Heidler won a surprise gold in the women's hammer at the World Championships yesterday.

Heidler won her first major title with her second throw of 74.76 metres, just two centimetres more than twice world champion Yipsi Moreno of Cuba's final throw.

"I was afraid to lose the gold medal," Heidler, who works for Germany's border police, said. "I was really trembling. After Yipsi's last throw I thought for a tiny moment I was only second. I knew there would a lot of suspense, but it feels strange to win."

Asian Games champion Zhang Wenxiu took bronze for China's first medal of the championships with 74.39 before committing her third foul of the six rounds by clattering the hammer into the net with her final throw.

"I'm proud to bring China its first medal," said Zhang. "It's a real confidence booster for next year's Olympics in Beijing."

The competition in Osaka had been thrown wide open after world record holder Tatyana Lysenko tested positive for doping in May.