Rediff.com« Back to articlePrint this article

World Athletics: Vikas Gowda qualifies for discus final

August 27, 2015 17:34 IST

Vikas Gowda of India competes in the Men's Discus qualification during day six of the 15th IAAF World Athletics Championships. Photograph: Michael Steele/Getty Images

Vikas Gowda qualified for the final round of the men's discus throw event with a modest effort of 63.86m on the sixth day of the World Athletics Championships in Beijing.

Gowda, the reigning Asian champion and Asian Games silver medallist, finished fourth in Group A qualification round to make the finals to be held on Saturday. His effort put him at seventh rank among those who have qualified for the final.

The 32-year-old United States-based Indian, whose national record stands at 66.28m, achieved his best mark of the day on his first attempt itself and then hurled the disc to 63.84m before fouling his third and last qualification round throw.

Gowda is competing in his third World Championships and had finished seventh in 2011 and 2013.

Fedrick Dacres of Jamaica led the qualification round with a throw of 65.77m, followed by Polishman Piotr Malachowski (65.59m) and Estonia's Olympic bronze medallist Gerd Kanter (64.78m).

© Copyright 2024 PTI. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of PTI content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent.