World champion Yipsi Moreno of Cuba was way off her season's best but it was enough to give her the gold in the women's hammer throw at the World Athletics Championships, at the Stade de France, in Paris, on Thursday.

The 22-year-old defending champion, who finished fourth at the Sydney Olympics, went into the event with a season's best of 75.14 metres, but could clear only 73.33 metres. However, it was sufficient to beat Russia's Olga Kuzenkova, the European gold medallist, and France's Manuela Montebrun, who finished second and third respectively.

Kuzenkova registered a best throw of 71.71m while Montebrun's best was 70.92m.

After achieving 71.02 metres on her first attempt, Moreno touched 73.33 metres on her second. In his subsequent throws, she posted 72.52m, 69.84m and 64.98m.

Photograph: Getty Images