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

Kamalpreet Kaur qualified for the final of the Women's Discus at the Tokyo Olympics with the best throw of 64m. In fact, she was the only two throwers among the 31-women field to seal automatic qualification with a throw of 64m or above. 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 Kaur's best throw of 64m was better than two-time Olympic champion Sandra Perkovic's best throw of 63.75m. Notably, Kamalpreet had set the new national record earlier this year with a best throw of 66.59m, which is the 6th best throw in the world in 2021. She began with a 60.29m throw but improved to make it 63.97 in her second. The youngster showed tremendous composure as she registered her best throw in her final attempt.

India at Women's Discus Qualification

Kamalpreet Kaur: 60.29m, 63.97m, 64m - Finishes 2nd

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 the best throw of 60.88 in the qualifiers.