Indian athletes failed to shine on the first day of the IAAF World Junior Championships and bowed out of their events in the heats itself in Beijing [ Images ] on Tuesday.

Poovamma M R brought up the rear in Heat 4 of the women's 400m in a time of 56.39 seconds to get eliminated at the first stage.

Virender K Pankaj gave a better account of himself, finishing a commendable third in Heat 2 of the men's 400m in 47.60 seconds.

However, he missed advancing to the next round of competition by a slender margin as South Africa's [ Images ] Alvin Samuels made it in 47.49 seconds.

The first two of each heat and the eight fastest runners qualified to go further in the competition.

In Heat 6 of the same event, V B Bineesh finished fifth, clocking 48.60 seconds.

In the men's 800m, Sajeesh Joseph finished sixth in Heat 6 with in 1:51.48 seconds as did Jhuma Khatun in Heat 2 of the corresponding women's event in 2:12.31 seconds.