Silver medal at Hawaii adds to the prospect of Medal at London Olympics

She was bracketed alongside Somdev Devvarman, Sushil Kumar, Heena Sidhu, Abhinav Bindra, Gagan Narang, Harpreet Singh and more…. A long list of Gold medalists in the Commonwealth Games for India.   You may still remember that the XIX Commonwealth Games were held in Delhi in Oct 2010 and lot of controversy preceded that.  71 Commonwealth Nations competed in 21 Sports and 272 events.    India won 101 medals in totals which included 37 Gold medals – and it was after a gap of 52 years that India won a Gold in Athletics when Krishna Poonia won Gold in Women's discus throw.

The discus throw is an event in track and field athletics where athlete throws a heavy disc.  This is an ancient sport evidenced by 5th century BC Myron statue.   This event is a routine part in modern track and field meets.  The women’s competition was added to Olympic in 1928 itself.   The throw is made by the competitor from a slightly recessed concrete-surfaced circle of 2.5 m dia. 

The first Indian woman to win Gold in CWG is from Hissar.  She has hogged limelight after fine performance at Hawaiii.   The  Olympics-bound woman discus thrower Krishna Poonia  yesterday  created a new national record en route to her silver medal winning performance at the Altius Track Crew Throwdown meet in Maui Island, Hawaii.  She  hurled the discuss to 64.76 meters to not only pocket the silver medal but also break Seema Antil’s existing national record of 64.64 meters.  Reigning Olympic champion Stephanie Brown Trafton of USA won the gold medal with a throw of 66.86 meters, while Gia Lewis-Smallwood pocketed the bronze with an effort of 63.97 meters.

Krishna, who had qualified for the London Olympics after clinching a gold medal in the women’s discus throw event of the Fling Throw Meet in Portland, USA earlier this summer, is ecstatic after ending her long wait of breaking the national record.   Krishna’s husband and coach Virendar Poonia hoped that his wife would cross the 65 meters mark in the upcoming London Olympics.

Krishna Poonia had contested in 2008 Beijing Olympics but failed to reach the finals there after her throw of 58.23.  The World Record stands in the name of German Gabriele Reinsh who threw 76.80M in July 1988

Hope that Krishna will return with a medal from London Olympics.  Wishing her and the Indian contingent all success

With Regards – S. Sampathkumar.