Tokyo: India’s lone javelin thrower at the Tokyo Olympics, Annu Rani failed to qualify for the women’s event final round after finishing 14 in Qualification Group B on Tuesday. The top 12 athletes combining both the qualification group advance to the final round.
Rani, who holds the National Record of 63.24m, performed poorly as she failed to manage even a single 60m throw at the Olympic Stadium. Rani began with a 50.35m throw before improving in her second attempt with 53.19m. Her best throw came in the third throw of 54.04m to finish off.
#JavelinThrow – Update
India's Annu Rani finishes her Qualification round with the final and highest throw of 54.04m finishing at 14th spot.#Tokyo2020 #Olympics #Athletics
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The 29-year-old had a disastrous performance, failing to even come close to her personal best set at the Federation Cup in Patiala earlier this year. Meanwhile, Maria Andrejczyk of Poland was the only thrower to qualify automatically by launching the spear 65.25m on her first attempt during the qualification event at the Games.
With Rani out, the focus is now on contender Neeraj Chopra and Shivpal Singh in the men’s event on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, in women’s wrestling, India’s Sonam Malik lost to Mongolia’s Bolortuya Khurelkhuu in 62kg in the pre-quarterfinals on Tuesday. Both the wrestlers finished with two points each but the Mongolian was given the nod to the next round because of her 2-point move in the last minute.
The 19-year-old Indian is not yet out of the Tokyo Olympics as she can be in contention via repechage later on which is yet to be out officially.
