Kamalpreet Kaur won automatic qualification for the women’s discus throw finals event at the Tokyo Olympics with her staggering throw
Although India are yet to add to their medal tally after day one when Mirabai Chanu won gold in the 49kg weightlifting event, the country has come up with a slew of notable performances. From the women’s hockey team qualifying for the quarter-finals for the first time in 41 years to Lovlina Borgohain assuring herself of a gold medal, the country’s representatives are leaving no stone unturned to win a medal.
Adding her name to the pile of illustrious performances at the Tokyo Olympics today was Kamalpreet Kaur from Punjab. The discus throw women’s event saw Kamalpreet Kaur send down a behemoth throw, one which earned her direct qualification into the finals.
Tokyo Olympics Live Results: India’s Kamalpreet Kaur Creates History In Discus Throw
The throw also saw Kamalpreet create history as she became the first Indian to ever qualify for the finals of an athletics event by finishing in the top 2 of the qualifiers. Kamalpreet Kaur’s 64m throw was second only to American Valarie Allman who threw at a distance of 66.42m.
More importantly, Kamalpreet Kaur laid down a real statement of intent for her medal aspirations at the Olympics as she bettered the throws of defending gold-medallist Sandra Perkovic (63.75m) of Croatia and current world champion Yaime Perez (63.18) of Cuba.
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 | #UnitedByEmotion pic.twitter.com/BwO8cIMgF4
— #Tokyo2020 for India (@Tokyo2020hi) July 31, 2021
Things didn’t quite get underway perfectly for Kamalpreet as she endured a sluggish start. Her first throw saw her only come up with a 60.29m effort.
However, she was quick to overhaul her dreary start as she unlocked her true potential. She bettered it with 63.29 in the second round before ending with a stellar 64m showing come the third and final throw.
Things don’t go according to plan unfortunately for her counterpart with Seema Punia crashing out in the qualification round only as she finished sixth with a 60.57m throw. Kamalpreet will not step out in the finals striving to add to her 4 Commonwealth Games’ medals and two Asian Games’ medals.