En-route to India, ace thrower Vikas Gowda was quietly planning for a grand birthday gift. The Commonwealth Games champion wanted to ring in his 30th birthday on Friday with a glittering gold medal at the Asian Championship that had eluded him on four previous occasions.
The top-seeded shot-putter charmed the capacity crowd with a stunning fourth throw of 64.90m to clinch India their first gold medal in the ongoing Asian Athletics Championship, besides also earning himself a priceless present.
With four-time Asian champion Ehsan Hadadi pulling out, Gowda was the top seed and he showed his class leaving the pack far behind with his effort as no other thrower could cross the 62m mark. Iran’s Mohammad Samimi finished second with a throw of 61.93m and Qatar’s Ahmed Mohammad finished third with 60.82. Though not his season’s best (65.82), achieved in Arizona, Gowda was satisfied with his effort. “It is my first Asian goad and it feels nice when the hard work pays off,” said Gowda.
The USA-based Gowda struggled initially and it was a defect in his shoe that had threatened to derail his campaign.
Gowda, who will be participating in a couple of Diamond Leagues in the UK before the worlds, said: “This is a big confidence booster. It has been possible because of hard work and right training. It has been a long road and I am happy with the progress.”