Tokyo Olympics | India’s Kamalpreet Kaur cruises into the discus throw final

The Punjab athlete ended ahead of defending gold-medallist Sandra Perkovic (63.75m) of Croatia and reigning world champion Yaime Perez (63.18) of Cuba

July 31, 2021 09:29 am | Updated 11:36 am IST

India’s Kamalpreet Kaur competes during the qualification round of the women's discus throw at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Saturday, July 31, 2021, in Tokyo.

India’s Kamalpreet Kaur competes during the qualification round of the women's discus throw at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Saturday, July 31, 2021, in Tokyo.

She has been in awesome form this season. And Kamalpreet Kaur did not disappoint on her Olympic debut, qualifying for the women's discus throw final comfortably with a 64m effort in Tokyo on Saturday.

The 25-year-old National record holder is the first Indian in athletics to qualify for the final in Tokyo. 

But former Asian Games champion Seema Antil-Punia, the other Indian in the event and who was competing in her fourth Olympics, failed to make the cut with just 60.57m in the qualification round where the automatic qualification standard was 64m. Seema qualified for Tokyo with 63.72m at the inter-Nationals in Patiala last month.

Kamalpreet became the 11th Indian, and the second woman discus thrower, to qualify for an Olympic final (direct finals like long distance events have not been included here). 

The Punjab athlete, who has not competed in the Asian Games or Commonwealth Games and who has a personal best of 66.59m achieved n June, opened her qualification series with 60.29m. She then produced two big throws, 63.97 and 64m, to finish second overall behind American Valarie Allman (66.42).

Cuba's World champion Yaime Perez (63.18m) and Croatia's Olympic champion Sandra Perkovic (63.75) are among those who have made it to Monday night's final.

There were big surprises too with Dutchwoman Jorinde van Klinken, this year's world leader with 70.22m, failing to qualify as she could manage only 61.15. Also missing the cut were Cuba's World championships silver medallist Denia Caballero, who could just throw 57.96m, and 2016 Rio Olympics silver medallist Melina Robert-Michon, who had a best throw of 60.88 in the qualifiers.

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