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 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.