Gowda qualifies for discus throw finals

India's Vikas Gowda qualified for his maiden finals in the World Championships with a creditable 63.99m effort in the men's discus throw qualification round in Daegu, South Korea, on Monday.

He hurled the disc to 63.99m in his second attempt to qualify for Tuesday's finals, as the eighth best out of 12.

His effort, though, was below his season's best of 64.91m, which he recorded at Chula Vista in the United States in June.

The Commonwealth Games silver medallist took part in the World Championships in 2005 and 2007 but could not go beyond the qualifying round. He holds the national record of 64.96m, recorded in 2007.

On Sunday, woman long jumper Mayookha Johny qualified for the finals, but finished ninth with a below-par 6.37m. She will take part in the qualification round of the triple jump on Tuesday.