Tokyo Olympics: Discus thrower Seema Punia makes the Olympic cut for the fourth time

Indian discus thrower Seema Punia has qualified for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics with the 63.72m discus throw event on the last day of the 60th National Inter-State Athletics Championships at the Netaji Subhas National Institute of Sports on Tuesday. 

With this qualification, Punia became the 12th individual Indian athlete to qualify for Tokyo Olympics.

The 37-year-old will compete in her fourth Olympics, equalling the record held by ace Indian tennis player Sania Mirza and former sprinter Shiney Wilson for the most appearances by an Indian woman at the Olympics.

The Olympic qualification in discus throw among women is 63.50 m.

Seema Poonia earns #Tokyo2020 qualification with an effort of 63.70m (OQ mark 63.50m) in women discus throw on the last day of Inter State meet in #Patiala

Congrats Seema! pic.twitter.com/RAlFhNaDuj

— Athletics Federation of India (@afiindia) June 29, 2021

Seema is the second Indian to qualify for this Tokyo Olympics in discus throw after Kamalpreet Kaur, who set the national record for 65.06 meters throw at the Federation Cup in March. 

Kamalpreet did not participate on Tuesday, although her name was on the list of participants.

Seema won the gold medal at the 2014 Asian Games in Incheon and the silver medal at the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta. She also bagged two silver medals and one gold medal at the Commonwealth Games.

Women's 400m Relay team failed to Qualify

The women's 4x100 m relay team of India consisting of Dutee Chand, AT Dhaneshwari, S Dhanalakshmi and Archana Suseendran were unable to breach the qualifying time for the Olympics.

The injured Hima Das did not participate in the race. Hima, however, continued to race in the women's 200m race, which was held on the last day. She finished in a modest sixth place with a time of 25.03 seconds.