Poonia qualifies for London Olympics with gold at US meet

NEW DELHI: Commonwealth Games gold-medallist Krishna Poonia qualified for next year’s London Olympics after clinching a gold medal in the women’s discus throw event of the Fling Throw Meet in Portland, USA.

Poonia came up with an outstanding throw of 61.12 meters, which was her best effort of the season and better than the 2012 London Olympics qualification ‘B’ standard of 59.50m.

This was Poonia’s first big throw since hurting her knee last year immediately after the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi.

Despite the cold and cloudy weather, Poonia was very consistent. She registered four marks of over 60 meters, two of which were over 61.

Poonia will return to India in the first week of November.

Poonia had earlier won gold in women’s discus throw event of the Harvest Throw Meet in Portland, United States. There she came up with a throw of 59.39m but her effort fell short of ‘B’ standard of 59.50m.

Poonia has been training at the Throws Centre at Concordia University at Oregon, Portland since July under the guidance of former Olympic champion Mac Wilkins.

Source: Times of India