Discus thrower Kamalpreet Kaur admits to feeling tense before producing a sparkling show to directly make it to the final after finishing second in qualifying rounds
India’s Kamalpreet Kaur during the discus throw qualification round at the Tokyo Games on Saturday. Pic/AP, PTI
Discus thrower Kamalpreet Kaur produced one of the best performances by an Indian in the Olympics, though in a qualifying round, as she made it to the finals of the ongoing Games after finishing second here on Saturday.
Kaur, 25, competing in qualification B, sent the discus to a distance of 64m in her third and final attempt to be one of the only two automatic qualifiers for the final round, the other being American Valarie Allman (66.42m). The final will held on Monday.
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Competing in her maiden Olympics in Tokyo and that too without her personal coach, Kaur said she was feeling nervous before the qualification round on Saturday.
“Olympics is a big occasion. I was feeling nervous before the throw. But after the first throw I felt better. By the third throw I was confident and that is why I touched 64m mark.
“I think I will be confident during the final. I feel I can better my personal best [of 66.59m] and win a medal for the country. That is my sole target now,” Kaur told PTI. The Indian ended ahead of defending gold-medallist Sandra Perkovic (63.75m) of Croatia and reigning world champion Yaime Perez (63.18) of Cuba. Perkovic qualified at third and Perez at seventh.
Kaur began with a 60.29m effort and then improved it to 63.97m before her third throw of 64m. Every competitor gets three throws. Those who touch 64m or at least 12 best performers in the two qualifying rounds advance to the final. The Punjab athlete has been in impressive form this year as she breached the 65m mark twice recently. She threw 65.06m during the Federation Cup in March.
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