Kamalpreet Kaur qualifies for women's discus throw final at Tokyo Olympics

India's Kamalpreet Kaur qualified for the women's discus throw final with a 64m throw on Saturday. Kaur and Valarie Allman (66.42) of the United States were the only two throwers to automatically qualify for the medal event.

Kamalpreet Kaur, of India, reacts after her throw during the qualification round of the women's discus throw at the 2020 Summer Olympics.

Kamalpreet Kaur qualified for the women's discus throw final on her Olympic debut 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 this edition. But former Asian Games champion Seema Antil-Punia, competing in her fourth Olympics, failed to make the cut with just 60.57m. The automatic qualification standard was 64m. Seema qualified for Tokyo with a 63.72m throw at the inter-Nationals in Patiala last month.

All you need to know about Kamalpreet Kaur

There goes #IND's first #Athletics finalist at #Tokyo2020

After a slow start with a throw of 60.29m, Kamalpreet Kaur pulled out a monster throw of 64m in her third attempt to qualify for the final of women's discus throw event! #StrongerTogether | #UnitedByEmotionpic.twitter.com/BwO8cIMgF4

— #Tokyo2020 for India (@Tokyo2020hi) July 31, 2021

 

Kamalpreet, who has a personal best of 66.59m (June), becomes the 11th Indian and the second woman discus thrower to qualify for an Olympic final (not counting direct finals like long-distance events). The Punjab athlete, who has never been to the Asian Games or Commonwealth Games, opened her qualification series with 60.29m and then produced two big throws, 63.97 and 64m, to finish second 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.

 

WORLD LEADER CRASHES OUT

Dutchwoman Jorinde van Klinken, this year's world leader with 70.22m, failed to qualify as she could manage only 61.15m. Cuba's World Championships silver medallist Denia Caballero, who could only manage 57.96m, and 2016 Rio Olympics silver medallist Melina Robert-Michon, with a best throw of 60.88m, also missed the cut.