Semenya in semis

world championships while injury-hit high-jumper Blanka Vlasic also advanced.
Semenya, cleared to compete as a woman in July 2010, nearly a year after she shot to prominence at the Berlin worlds, denied she felt pressure to perform after a poor season in which she has failed to break the 2min barrier.
The 20-year-old South African finished second in her heat in 2:01.01 behind reigning world indoor and European champion Mariya Savinova, qualifying joint fifth quickest overall for today’s semi-final.
“I’m not under pressure. I want to go back and focus again,” Semenya said after her heat.
When asked about her right knee, which she felt after her race, before walking and stretching, she said: “It’s not a problem. I’ll fix it and get ready and focus for the next race.”
Two-time defending champion Vlasic sustained a serious injury to her take-off leg in training shortly before the worlds. But the 27-year-old Croat, who has successively taken the Berlin 2009 world, Doha 2010 world indoor and Barcelona 2010 European titles, seemed to have few problems in sweltering conditions at Daegu stadium. – AFP.