Cuban Savigne upsets Lebedeva in triple jump

OSAKA, Japan, Aug 31 (Reuters) Cuban Yargelis Savigne caused a major upset when she soared to triple jump gold and deprived Russian Tatyana Lebedeva of an unprecedented world championships double today.

The 22-year-old produced the best leap of the year of 15.28 metres on her first attempt at the Nagai Stadium and it proved good enough to take the title.

''This medal is a big surprise and important for me and Cuba,'' Savigne told reporters. ''I always believed that I could jump more than 15 metres. My first jump was very important.'' Lebedeva, 31, won the long jump this week and was hoping to reclaim the title she won in her favourite event in both 2001 and 2003 to become the first woman to take both world golds at the same world championships.

''That's life,'' she said. ''I wanted the second gold ... The triple jump is my main event and again I did not win. I have all the major titles in the long jump.'' In the end Lebedeva had to settle for silver with a best effort of 15.07, while Greece's Olympic silver medallist Hrysopiyi Devetzi won bronze with her first attempt of 15.04.

Reuters TB GC2122