China's pole vaulter sets Asian record in Shanghai Diamond League

SHANGHAI, May 18 (Xinhua) -- Newly crowned Asian champion Li Ling set a new Asian mark in pole vault as she cleared 4.72 meters at IAAF Shanghai Diamond League here on Saturday.

Li improved her own Asian record, set in Doha in 2016 by 2cm as the 29-year-old took a silver medal on her second attempt to jump over 4.72. Greek Katerina Stefanidi cleared the same height on her first attempt and finished first. Another Greek jumper Nikoleta Kiriakopoulou also took a silver.

Li was fresh from her Asian Championships victory in April in Doha where she won in 4.61.