The Hindu : Sport / Athletics : Poonia attains ‘A’ standard

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Poonia attains ‘A’ standard

— FILE PHOTO

Krishna Poonia.

NEW DELHI: Krishna Poonia registered a personal best of 63.41 metres while coming second in the women’s discus event in the annual throws meet at Hartnell College, Salinas, California, on Thursday.

In the process, the Asian Games bronze medallist, who had previously qualified for the Olympics with a 59.04m in a meet at Walnut, achieved the ‘A’ qualification standard (61.0m) that will enable her and another Indian athlete with a similar mark to compete in the Beijing Games.

Krishna had four other throws over 61 metres, her husband-coach Virendar Poonia informed from the U.S., though no official series were available. The gold medal winner, Stefanie Trafton (U.S.) also recorded a personal best of 66.17 that was the best in the world for the season while the bronze went to Anna Soderberg of Sweden with 61.58.

Salinas is famous for its swirling winds that aid the discs throwers and because of this factor almost all the top throwers of the world come over to this U.S. town every year to compete. It is not the tail-wind that helps, as in the case of jumpers but head-wind. The discus has to cut through the winds for it to be carried beyond normal range.

In the men’s section, Vikas Gowda, the U.S.-based Indian record holder, finished fifth with a throw of 64.83m. He had thrown 64.96 for the National record in the same competition last year.

Estonian Gerd Kanter won the gold with a world-leading 71.88. Mart Israel (Estonia-65.03) and John Godina (U.S. - 64.99) claimed the silver and bronze.

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