Tajinderpal Singh Toor qualifies for Olympics in shot put with Asian record throw

Patiala, June 22: Asian Games champion, Tajinderpal Singh Toor has qualified for the Tokyo Olympic Games in men's shot put with an Asian record throw of 21.49m in the Indian Grand Prix IV here on Monday. He is the 11th Indian to qualify for Olympics in track and field.

 

Toor's performance of 21.49m, a national record, bettered the Asian record of 21.13m as well as the qualifying mark of 21.10m. The 26-year-old's previous best was 20.92m.

 

 

Toor sealed the Olympic berth with his opening throw of 21.49m. His legal throws were 21.28, 21.13 and 21.13. "It is a big relief to compete as we could not go abroad for competitions due to the pandemic. I am glad that I could do my best on Monday. I was aiming for 21.50m and I got that with my first throw," Toor said in a media interaction.

 

While Toor celebrated, there was agony for Dutee Chand and Hima Das. Hima finished 0.08 seconds outside the qualification mark in women's 200m. The last event of the day saw just three athletes in action and Das beat the challenge of Tamil Nadu athletes S Dhanalakshmi and Archana Suseendran. The Assam girl timed 22.88s (entry standard 22.80s).

 

Select results: Men: Shot put: 1. Tajinderpal Singh Toor (Pun, 21.49m NR, Old: 20.92, Toor, 2019); 2. Karanveer Singh (Pun, 20.00); 3. Vanam Sharma (Raj, 19.93).

 

Long Jump: 1. M Sreeshankar (Ker, 7.74m); 2. Yugant Shekhar Singh (UP, 7.67); 3. Muhammed Anees Yahiya (Ker, 7.60).

 

4x400m Relay: 1. India A (Muhammed Anas Yahiya, Amoj Jacob, Arokia Rajiv and Noah Nirmal Tom) 3:02.61s; 2. India B 3:11.77; 3. Maldives 3:37.38.

Women: 100m: 1. Dutee Chand (Odi, 11.17s NR. Old: 11.22s, Dutee, 2019); 2. AT Daneshwari (Kar, 11.48); 3. Himashree Roy (Ben, 11.71).

 

400m: 1. MR Poovamma (Kar, 53.78s); 2. VV Revathi (TN, 54.28); 3. Kiran Pahal (Har, 54.48).

 

4x100m relay: 1. India A (Archana Suseendran, Hima Das, S Dhanalakshmi and Dutee Chand) 43.37s NR. Old: 43.42, India, 2016); 2. India B 48.02; 3. Maldives 50.74.

 

Discus throw: 1. Kamalpreet Kaur (Pun, 66.69m NR. Old: 65.06m, Kamalpreet, 2021).