London, Aug 6: India's Vikas Gowda qualified for the final of men's discus throw at the London Olympics 2012 on Monday.

The six-feet-nine-inch tall Vikas, with a throw of 65.20 got an automatic qualification. He achieved this mark in his second attempt. There will be 12 athletes in the final. The final is on August 7 at 12.15 AM IST (August 8).

The 29-year-old started with 63.52 and immediately crossed the 65-metre mark in his next throw.

It is good news for Indian athletics fraternity that Vikas too has made it to the medals round. Earlier, Krishna Poonia too had reached the final in women's discus throw but could not win a medal. She finished seventh.

Vikas had failed to qualify for the final in the last Olympics, Beijing 2008. He had managed 60.69 metres in Beijing which was not enough for making the cut. He had finished 22nd in Beijing qualifiers. His personal best is 66.28 metres which is a national record.

Vikas, who is supported by Olympic Gold Quest, was training at John Godina World Throws Centre in Phoenix, Arizona.

Before heading to London, Vikas' training had been hampered by lack of funds but he said it won't allow that to be a 'distraction'.

"As of now I have only received funding that will cover about 20 percent of my expenses. I have been told that I will receive more but I don't know (when). It is a constant issue I have been dealing with but I will not let it be a distraction," he told PTI last month.

Vikas is coached by his father Shive Gowda, who is also in London after Athletics Federation of India approved him to accompany his son as Indian official.

OneIndia News