Vikas Gowda finishes eighth in discus throw

India's Vikas Gowda finished eighth in the men's discus throw at the London Olympics after a below-par effort on Tuesday night.

The United States-based athlete hurled the 2kg disc to a distance of 64.79m in his first attempt, well below his personal best of 66.28m which he recorded in the run-up to the Games.

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A personal best too would not have been enough for the 29-year-old to climb the podium, but after his fifth-place finish in the qualification round on Monday by clearing 65.20m, a good fight was expected from him.

His first attempt of 64.79m ensured that he remained in the competition at seventh after the first round of three attempts following which four of the 12 throwers were eliminated.

But after that Gowda failed to lift his performance. His next five throws read: 60.95m, 63.03m, 64.15m, 64.48m and 63.89m.

Reigning World champion Robert Harting of Germany won gold with a throw of 68.27m, which he achieved in his fifth attempt, while the silver went to Asian champion Ehsan Hadadi of Iran, who cleared 68.18m in his first throw.

2008 Beijing Olympics winner Gerd Kanter of Estonia bagged the bronze with a season's best throw of 68.03m which he came up with in his fifth throw.

Gowda thus ended his campaign on a disappointing note, failing to better his personal best though he was only the seventh Indian to qualify for the final round in a track and field event at the Olympics.