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Athletics

Favourite Idowu eases into triple jump final

18/08/2008

British gold medal favourite Phillips Idowu has booked his place in the final of the triple jump at the Beijing Olympics.

The London-born athlete looked calm and confident as he cruised into Thursday's medal decider, needing just one attempt to register a qualifying distance.

Idowu leapt 17.44m, 34cm clear of the qualifying distance of 17.10m.

The 29-year-old will be joined in the final by compatriot Larry Achike, who jumped 17.18m, but fellow Briton Nathan Douglas failed to get close to the required standard recording a best jump of 16.72m.

Idowu is favourite for gold after claiming wins in the world indoor championships and the Commonwealth Games in the last couple of years.

And his claims for the top medal were boosted by the withdrawal of defending Olympic champion Christian Olsson of Sweden on the eve of the Beijing Games.