Athletics-China's Gong retains shot put title by eight cm

China's Gong Lijiao retained her world shot put title but got a fright when Jamaica's Danniel Thomas-Dodd nearly pipped her to gold with her last attempt on Thursday.

Gong, who has won 13 of her 14 competitions this season, led from the first round with a throw of 19.07 metres, bettered that with 19.42 on her second and then managed 19.55 with her fourth. She had an anxious moment, however, when Thomas-Dodd threw a personal best of 19.47 metres, missing out by eight centimetres.

Germany's Christine Schwanitz, who has taken time away from competing and had a child since she won the world title in 2015, claimed the bronze with 19.17.

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