'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Although Vikas Gowda started off on a positive mark, qualifying in the last 8 with a personal best throw of 64.79 m in the discus throw event, he did not manage to make to a top 3 spot, making our wait for an athletics medal to continue.
There were great expectations from the Indian who entered into the tournament with the highest range and arm’s length, but unfortunately he was unable to fulfill our hopes. Vikas faced tough competition from the likes of Germany’s Robert Harting (personal best throw of 68.27 m), Iran’s Ehsan Hadadi (best throw 68.28 m) and Estonia’s Gerd Kanter (best throw of 68.03 m).
From the moment Vikas stepped in the ring, it seemed like an off-day for the 29 year old US-based Indian. He came through the qualifying fairly easily though. Starting with a 64.79 m throw, he went down to 60.95 m in his second and revived to 63.03 m on the 3rd throw, coming 8th and thus qualifying in the top 8.
From there on he managed to get a 64.15 m, 64.48 m and 63.89 m in his 4th, 5th and final throws respectively, which were not nearly enough to match the massive throws from Robert Harting (GER), Ehsan Hadadi (IRI), and Gerd Kanter (EST) who came in the 1st, 2nd and 3rd positions.
Although this result will come as disappointment for Indians, there is a flicker of opportunity in the loss. Gowda has opened the gates for a lot of potential in the field of athletics, specifically discus throw. By the next Olympics, it can be hoped that India has a higher rate of participation in this limitless field of athletics, and the country’s athletes do a better job of ending the public’s desire for an athletics medal.
Looking at the bright side of things, Vikas must not aim at success as a final point. Success is not a milestone, it is not a stage, it is but a journey. Becoming successful is just the beginning; sustaining success should be an athlete’s eventual aim. Here’s hoping Vikas manages to sustain his good performance for many years to come.
As Winston Churchill once said, “Success is the ability to move from one failure to another, with no loss of enthusiasm”.
