Veteran jumper Jing Xuezhu from Beijing defended her title in the women's high jump with a jump of 1.92 meter at the 10th Chinese National Games yesterday.

Jing, 30, led a group of 18 finalists in the event Monday evening, and cleared 1.92m in her last successful jump for the gold.

The silver medalist at the 2005 Asian Championships began her jump from 1.75 meters and improved her mark to 1.90 meters with five jumps.

Zhejiang's teenager Gu Biwei seemed to be the only one who was able to challenge Jing on Monday. The world junior champion also passed the height of 1.90 meter but failed to clear the barrier of1.92 meters.

Encouraged by the few but exciting audiences, Jing flied over the bar of 1.92m at the third attempt so as to defend her title, leaving 17-year-old Gu in the second at 1.90m. 17-year-old Gu Xuan from Chinese Army had the bronze at 1.84 meter.

Jing also tried to challenge the height of 1.95m but failed. "My personal best is 1.94m, so I want to improve it today," said Jing.

Jing clinched the title at last edition of National Games at 1.90m. She said that she lost ten kilograms within the last four years and had a better physical condition as a veteran.

When talking about the teenaged silver and bronze medallists, Jing said, "I really hope that the young generation could exceed me. However, I'm in a good form and I believe I could be still competitive at the 2006 Asian Games."