Indian discus thrower Seema Punia has qualified for the Olympic Games in Rio 2016 with a throw of 62.62 metres. She outthrew the Olympic mark of 61.00 significantly, and with that attempt also pipped 2008 women’s Olympic discus throw champion Stephanie Brown-Trafton of the United States of America to gold at the Pat Young Thrower's Classic in Salinas, California.
The Haryana-based athlete has had significant international success, winning silver at the 2006 Commonwealth Games, following that up with a bronze medal at the 2010 edition of the event.
She won silver at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games in 2014, which was one of her best years professionally; the 32-year-old won the gold medal at the Asian Games in Incheon the same year.
Finishing 13th overall at the 2012 London Olympic Games, Punia will hope to improve her Olympic performance ahead of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, which commence in August.
