Date:20/05/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/05/20/stories/2007052009091800.htm

Sport - Athletics

Gowda breaks into top 10

NEW DELHI: Asian silver medallist discus thrower, Vikas Gowda, has broken into the World top ten with a throw of 64.96 metres at the Gary Shaw Classic throws meet at Salinas, California in the United States. With this throw Gowda bettered his National mark of 64.69m by 27 centimetres.

According to the information received here from the Athletic Federation of India (AFI), Gowda, the current Indian record holder broke the National record for the third time as he finished fourth in the meet.

Jarred Rome of the United States won with a distance of 67.76m beating Niklas Arrhenius of Swedon (65.77m) and countryman Adam Kuehl (64.98m).

It was here Gowda first claimed the National record with a throw of 64.35m in 2004, which he further improved in 2005 at Charlotte Invitation with 64.69m. After a disappointing 2006 season Gowda has now been aiming for the best at the Osaka World championship.

The top 10 (as on May 18): Discus: 1 Gerd Kanter (Est) 72.02, 2. Virgilijus Alekna (Ltu) 70.01, 3. Jarred Rome (USA) 68.37, 4. Ian Waltz (USA) 67.98, 5. Omar Ahmed El Ghazaly (Egy) 66.10, 6. Rutger Smith (Ned) 66.08, 7. Niklas Arrhenius (Swe) 65.77, 8. Piotr Malachowski (Pol) 65.06, 9. Adam Kuehl (USA) 64.98, 10. Vikas Gowda (Ind) 64.96. — Principal Correspondent