Tokyo: Discus thrower Kamalpreet Kaur finished a creditable sixth in her first Olympics with a best throw of 63.70m. It was a rain-interrupted final here Monday which probably affected Kamalpreet Kaur’s performance. The 25-year-old Kamalpreet had qualified for the final with the second best throw Saturday. However, she never in the running for a medal in the eight rounds of competition which was interrupted by rain for more than an hour.
Kamalpreet had a third round throw of 63.70m to end at sixth and equal 2010 Commonwealth Games gold medallist Krishna Poonia’s performance in the 2012 London Olympics. Throughout the competition, Kamapreet, who was without her personal coach, looked nervous and short of confidence as she lacked international exposure. She has taken part only in World University Games in 2017, her lone international competition.
A farmer’s daughter at Punjab’s Kabarwala village, Kamalpreet had raised hopes of India’s elusive athletics medal after finishing second in the qualification round with a best throw of 64m.
American Valarie Allman took the gold with a first round throw of 68.98m. Kristin Pudenz (66.86m) of Germany and reigning World Champion Yaime Perez (65.72m) of Cuba won the silver and bronze respectively. Two-time defending champion Sandra Perkovic of Croatia was fourth with a best throw of 65.01m.