Obikwelu pulls out, Lemaitre advances

Defending champion Francis Obikwelu of Portugal withdrew from 200m qualifying at the European Championships on Wednesday, while 100 winner Christophe Lemaitre of France easily advanced to the semifinals.

The Portuguese team said Obikwelu pulled out because of a leg muscle injury, after finishing a disappointing fourth in the 100 on Wednesday.

Lemaitre had the third best time of 20.64 seconds, with Jaysuma Saidy Ndure of Norway fastest in 20.60.

The defending champion in the 110 hurdles also exited, as Latvia's Olijars Stanislavs was disqualified from his heat because of a false start.

In the decathlon, Darius Draudvila of Lithuania was leading following the discus throw, with three events to go.