BENGALURU: Asian Games silver medalist Vikas Gowda qualified for the World Athletics Championships in Beijing, winning the men’s discus throw in a competition at the Olympic training centre in San Diego, USA.
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Vikas came up with his seasons best of 65.25m to make the grade, bettering the qualification mark of 65m. “This was only my second competition and I’m happy to qualify this early in the season. I don’t have to worry about anything else and focus on doing my best at the Worlds,” Vikas told TOI from San Diego.
The ace athlete said he will now compete in about 5-6 meets before the Worlds to fine-tune his preparation. “I will be competing in the Asian Championships in Wuhan and also in the Diamond League meets including in Shanghai,” he said.
Vikas said having featured in the finals of two World Championships, his aim would be to go further in Beijing. “I want to get closer to the medal and it’s going to be a dream medal. I know it’s going to be really tough but I’m confident of reaching there. I’m going to take it day by day,” he said.
The competition at San Diego saw more than 20 top athletes in action. An American athlete took the silver behind Vikas with an effort of 64m while Dutchman Eric took the bronze with an effort of 63.88m.
In his first event of the season on April 10, Vikas threw the discus to a distance of 63.88m to win the gold at the Mesa Classic in Arizona. The champion discus thrower, who finished behind Iran’s Ehsan Hadadi in Incheon, trains in USA.
Vikas would be looking to build on his achievements after a splendid 2014 during which he clinched the Commonwealth Games gold medal in Glasgow and the Asiad silver. “This season is going to be big, especially with the World Championships and the Olympics next year. So it will be a big fight when we get to the Worlds,” the champion athlete had said.
