LONDON, Aug 6:
India’s top discus thrower Vikas Gowda today kept himself in medal reckoning as he qualified for the final round of the London Games by finishing at the top of Group A and fifth overall with an impressive performance at the Olympic Stadium here.
United States-based Gowda started with a throw of 63.52m but hurled the 2kg disc to a distance of 65.20m in his second attempt to book an automatic berth in the final round to be held tomorrow at 7:54 pm local time (12:15 am Wednesday).
The final round entry standard was set at 65m mark or the best 12 sail through.
Gowda is also only the second Indian to make the finals in track and field at the ongoing Games after Krishna Poonia, who eventually finished seventh in women’s discus throw.
The other five Indians to make it to the final round of Olympic Games’ track and field events are Milkha Singh (400m), Gurbachan Singh Randhawa (110m hurdles), Sriram Singh (800m), P T Usha (400m hurdles) and Anju Bobby George (Long Ju
29-year-old Gowda’s fine effort brought some cheer to the Indian contingent which has so far failed to make much of an impression in the athletic arena. The Indian was one of the six throwers who secured automatic qualification by clearing 65m mark.
Gowda, who has a personal best of 66.28m, did not exert much in the qualification round and he did not take the third attempt after achieving the qualification mark.
“The first throw slipped out of my hand but I knew the second was a good one. My first aim to qualify and I have achieved that,” Gowda said. Gowda said that the 10.00 am start made him feel a little sluggish.
“It’s 10 O’clock so I’m feeling pretty sluggish but I am confident for the final. I just need to stay relaxed and stay focussed,” he said. (PTI)
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