Steady Sandra looks the best

Three years ago, Sandra Perkovic was virtually seconds away from death after appendicitis complications. A six-month doping suspension last year further added to her woes.

But now, after a string of consistent performances, the Croatian is the hot favourite to take the women’s discus throw gold at the London Olympics.

The 22-year-old World No. 1 has had a steady season, defending her European Championship title in Helsinki recently and walking away with Diamond League golds at the Oslo Bislett Games, Profaintaine Classic in Eugene and in Shanghai where she also posted her personal best of 68.24m.

But Perkovic, who is third in the world performance list this season, will have a tough battle on her hands in London. Darya Pischalnikova sprung a big surprise at the recent Russian Championship with a mighty 70.69m throw which was the best the meet had seen in more than 20 years.

There is a small link between Perkovic and Pishchalnikova — both have been in drop trouble.

While Perkovic lost six months last year and also missed the Daegu World Championship, the 27-year-old Russian was handed a two-year ban after she tampered with her samples.

Very different

With the top stars back in the fray, Perkovic expects London to be very different from the Beijing Games.

Four girls — German World No. 2 Nadine Muller, who is also second in the performance list this season with 68.89m and Cuban Yarelys Barrios — have already flung the saucer to more than 68m, while China’s Li Yanfeng is very close to it with a season-best of 67.84m.

Yanfeng is 33, but she seems to be improving with age. She won the World Championship gold in Daegu last year and in 2010 walked away with the 2010 Continental Cup title in Split.

But the Olympics have brought her only disappointment. She was seventh when China hosted the Games in 2008 and ninth at the 2004 Athens Games.

But Yanfeng has changed her technique a bit and this she says have brought her rich rewards. From 60.68m in Beijing, she’s now close to 68m.

No wonder, Virendra Poonia had a message for his wife, Indian hope Krishna Poonia (personal and season best 64.76m) as soon as they reached London. “C’mon 67m at London,” he wrote on her Facebook page.