Indian athletes are creating history with their extraordinary performances in Tokyo Olympics. From Mirabai Chanu securing silver in weightlifting to PV Sindhu entering the finals, Indian women athletes have become the ultimate symbol of girl power. On the 9th day of the Olympics, Kamalpreet Kaur progressed to the final round after a qualifying mark of 64m in her final attempt. Let’s look at the inspiring career and journey of Kamalpreet Kaur.
Early Life
Born on 4th March 1996, Kamalpreet Kaur comes from Badal, a village located in the Sri Muktsar District of Punjab. She pursued athletics on the insistence of her physical education coach in 2012. It was after her first participation that she realized her inclination towards sports and took it up seriously in 2014. Her training began under the Sports Authority of India, SAI center at her village. With her rigorous practice and determination, she emerged as the national champion in the U-18 and U-20 Championships held in 2016. She also participated in the 2016 Olympics and is now delivering her best performance at the Tokyo Olympics 2021.
Achievements
Kamalpreet Kaur participated in the Asian Athletics Championships that was held in Doha in 2019. In the Asian Athletics Championship, she finished fifth. Then in 2019 she also secured gold at the 2019 Federation Cup Senior Athletics Championship with a throw of 60.25m. In the 24th Federation Cup Senior Athletics Championships, she became the first Indian woman to break the 65m barriers in the discus throw. She also set a national record-breaking throw of 65.06m at the 24th Federation Cup Senior Athletics Championships in Patiala and then qualified for the Tokyo Olympics.
A Step Closer Towards Olympics Medal
Kamalpreet Kaur has qualified for the final of the Women’s Discus at the Tokyo Olympics with the best throw of 64m. She was also one of the only two throwers among the 31-women field to get qualified with a throw of 64m or above. Kamalpreet Kaur’s throw of 64m was acclaimed to be better than two-time Olympic champion Sandra Perkovic’s best throw of 63.75m. Kamalpreet. Kaur had also set the National Record with a best throw of 66.59m, regarded as the 6th best in the row. Although she began with a 60.29m throw, she improved to make it 63.97 in her second. Kamalpreet displayed immense composure as she went for her best throw in her final attempt.
She has successfully qualified for the women’s discus throw final at the Tokyo Olympics. Therefore, making a new mark for Indian athletes at the Olympics. She became the first woman to touch the 64m mark.
Kamalpreet Kaur had a personal best of 66.59m in June. She opened her qualification series with 60.29m and then delivered two big throws, 63.97 and 64m, to finish second after American Valarie Allman who delivered a throw of 66.42.
Speaking on her achievement, her coach Virendra Poonia said that if Kamalpreet delivers her best performance as she did in India she is capable of winning the medal. With time her performance has gotten better and if she continues to do so she will bring a medal home for India.
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