Athletics: Adams beats rival in Oslo

Valerie Adams. Photo / Brett Phibbs

New Zealand shot putter Valerie Adams has made an immediate mark on her return to Europe for a Diamond League meeting.

The 2008 Olympic champion got the better of her fierce rival Nadezhda Ostapchuk today in Oslo, Norway, with a winning throw of 20.26m proving too good for the Belarussian.

Ostapchuk could manage no better than 19.92m in the first head-to-head battle between the world's two best female putters this year.

Ostapchuk had the better of Adams last year when the New Zealand had a number of out-of-competition issues to deal with, including changing coaches and separating from her husband.

China's Gong Lijiao, these days assisted by Adams' former coach Kirsten Hellier, finished third with a best effort of 19.57m.

- NZPA