Despite the performance Fell is still resigned to not taking one of the two slots at London 2012 after a disappointing World Championships where her team mates Mhairi Spence and Samantha Murray took gold and bronze respectively.

Behind the leading two, Yane Marques of Brazil took bronze after overtaking three competitors in the final 50 metres.

"I am so happy to win my first gold medal of the year" said the Lithuanian mother-of-one.

"I had a perfect day, I fenced better than I usually do, rode really well and the combined is my strongest event so I knew I had the gold after the first few shots.

"I am really happy!"

Fell's emotions were a little more complicated given her disappointment in Rome earlier this month.

"I have massive mixed emotions after what happened at the Worlds," said the 29-year-old Briton after she had climbed from tenth place to second in the run/shoot to finish 16 seconds behind Asadauskaite.

"I didn't really do anything amazing today apart from my run and shoot which was satisfying.

"This is good for me as I didn't believe in myself anymore.

"I wanted to do this for everyone at home.

"At least now I can say I did something big on the world stage this year."

Annika Schleu of Germany had to settle for fourth place, but it is a result that puts her in a strong position for selection in the German team for London 2012.

A new 15 shot world record from Lithuania's Gintare Venckauskaite of 28.73sec (9.58/9.14/10.01) was not enough to prevent her finishing last after a disappointing ride.

However, she can hold her head up high, leaving China with a bit of history.

Today's result means Fell (pictured) is likely to achieve the London 2012 Olympic qualifying standard via the Olympic ranking list.



She will be the fourth British woman to achieve the standard, once again showing the strength and depth Britain has in the sport.

Mhairi Spence achieved the qualifying standard when she won the World Championships in Rome two weeks ago, when Samantha Murray also achieved the standard by taking bronze.

Freyja Prentice achieved the standard by finishing eighth at last year's European Championships.

A maximum of two athletes per gender per nation can compete at the Olympic Games.

A selection meeting will now take place in early June with the British Olympic Association scheduled to announce the GB modern pentathlon team for London 2012 on June 8.

Jan Bartu, Pentathlon GB performance director, said: "Heather had a smashing combined event today – she took a high quality tactical approach and it was a well deserved second place.

"It will be a great encouragement for her after the World Championships, when she didn't achieve her objectives.

"It looks like we'll have four women on the qualifying list now and they have all done a great job to be there.

"We now need to keep the momentum going for the next two and a half months," he added.

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