Berlin  - Blanka Vlasic of Croatia retained her high jump world title on Thursday as home hope Ariane Friedrich did not quite live up to the expectations in a hyped duel.

Vlasic clinched victory in the packed Olympic Stadium with 2.04m when Friedrich narrowly missed her only attempt over 2.06m (after two fouls over 2.04m).

Friedrich had to settle for third in the end with 2.02m, losing on countback against Russian Anna Chicherova.

Berlin - Blanka Vlasic required six stitches on her head after a freak accident on Tuesday, but that didn't stop her from qualifying a little later for the high jump final at the world athletics championships.

The Croatian title holder Vlasic reportedly hit her head on a door frame during early morning warmup exercises in her hotel room. Vlasic then took just four jumps in the session to qualify with 1.95m.

"I hit my head, this morning. I required six stitches," she said after qualifying.

Berlin - Blanka Vlasic successfully managed not to speak out the name of her local rival for the world high jump title.

The words "Ariane" or "Friedrich," let alone "Ariane Friedrich," were not uttered once throughout the 25-minute news conference on Monday. There were just a handful of "she" references.

The duel between Croatia's Vlasic and Friedrich is the highlight for the home team and one of the fiercest at the Berlin worlds.

Berlin - Croatian high jump queen Blanka Vlasic is expected to compete at the opening Golden League meet in Berlin next month despite a reported dispute over appearance money.

ISTAF manager Gerhard Janetzky said Tuesday the meeting "would be delighted to welcome Blanka Vlasic again in the Olympic Stadium."

Among others competing in Berlin on June 14 are women's pole-vault world record holder Yelena Isinbayeva of Russia, the 2007 jackpot winner, 400 metres runner Sanya Richards of the United States and 500 metres Olympic champion Kenenisa Bekele of Ethiopia.

Doha/Hamburg  - Top athletics stars including Croatian high jump queen Blanka Vlasic are considering a boycott of the opening Golden League meet, the ISTAF in Berlin on June 14, over an appearance money controversy.

Vlasic's Austrian manager Harald Edletzberger told German Press Agency dpa at the Qatar Super Grand Prix that "there have been discussions to this effect among managers in Doha" on the weekend.