Discus thrower Seema Punia qualifies for Olympics

Discus thrower Seema Punia qualifies for Olympics

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Image Courtesy: © Getty Images

2014 Asian Games gold medallist Seema Punia qualified for the upcoming Rio Olympics after winning gold at the Pat Young Thrower's Classic in Salinas, California on Sunday. The 32-year-old threw a distance of 62.62 meters in the discus throw event to confirm her place in the quadrennial event.

Seema, who also won silver at the 2014 Commonwealth Games, beat 2008 Olympic champion Stephanie Brown Trafton to claim the gold at the event. The American settled for a silver medal after managing a throw of only 60.50 meters. The qualification mark for Rio Olympics was 61 meters, and Seema significantly bettered the mark with a 62.62-meter throw.

The Haryana-based athlete had finished 13th in the 2012 London Olympics and will be hoping to better her performance this time around.

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