JOIN USIndia’s Vikas Gowda struck silver in discus throw in the opening Diamond League meeting of the season here, gaining an early boost in a busy season.
The Asian champion came up with an effort of 63.23 metres, finishing second behind Poland’s Piotr Malachowski.
Tintu Luka, the other Indian athlete figuring here, finished sixth in the 800 metres with a time of 2:00.56.
Malachowski was a cut above the rest of the field, delivering a throw of 66.72 metres for the gold medal that gave him a head start in the Diamond race.
Vikas, who had opened his season with a 64.39M effort last month, couldn’t match that effort and though he won the silver, was disappointed with his throw.
"I am not satisfied with my result, it's hard to say what happened,” said Vikas, who had won India’s first Diamond League medal -- a bronze -- two years ago in New York.
“I'll watch the video and analyse it later. I believe nobody else is happy with their performances today as well,” added the 31-year-old, who has a personal best of 66.28 metres.
Indeed, barring Malachowski, none of the other throwers was in his groove. Former Olympic champion Gerd Kanter of Estonia was third with 62.90 metres while Asian record holder Ehsan Hadadi of Iran ended up seventh with a 61.86M effort.
Though she failed to finish in the top-five, Tintu had positives to take home in a quality field in the 800 metres. Kenya’s Olympic champion Eunice Jepkoech Sum won the gold in a world-leading 1:59.33, followed by Chanelle Price of USA in a personal best of 1:59.75. Lenka Masna of Czech Republic was third in 2:00.20.
In the 400M race for Asian athletes, India’s Arokia Rajiv came third in 46.74 seconds.