Xtra Time Web Desk: Discus thrower Kamalpreet Kaur produced an impressive performance in her maiden Olympics as she finished second in the qualifying round of discus throw at Tokyo Olympics on Saturday. The 25-year-old Kamalpreet, competing in qualification B, sent the discus to a distance of 64m in her third and final attempt to be one of the only two automatic qualifiers for the final round, the other being American Valarie Allman (66.42m). The final will held on August 2.
The Indian ended ahead of defending gold-medallist Sandra Perkovic (63.75m) of Croatia and reigning world champion Yaime Perez (63.18) of Cuba. Perkovic qualified at third and Perez at seventh.
Kaur began with a 60.29m effort and then improved it to 63.97m before her third throw of 64m.The Punjab athlete has been in impressive form this year as she breached the 65m mark twice recently. She threw 65.06m during the Federation Cup in March to break the national record and become the first Indian to breach the 65m mark.
Then in June, she bettered her own national record with a throw of 66.59m during the Indian Grand Prix-4 to sit at world number six.
However there was disappointment as veteran Seema Punia made failed to qualify after finishing sixth in qualification A and 16th overall with a below-par best throw of 60.57m. She has never qualified in the final round in her previous three attempts in Olympics as well.