‘Kamalpreet could produce a big surprise’

If she does 66-plus, I think she can win a medal in Tokyo, says Krishna Poonia

She quit sport soon after the 2016 Rio Olympics but now Krishna Poonia is excited with discus thrower Kamalpreet Kaur’s stunning progress this year. And she feels the 25-year-old could pull off a big surprise at the Tokyo Olympics. “I was happy when she crossed 65m to break my national record and she has done that twice this year. If she does 66-plus like she did recently, I think she can win a medal in Tokyo,” said Krishna, the first Indian woman to win a Commonwealth Games gold (2010, New Delhi), in a chat with The Hindu from Jaipur. Four discus throwers have crossed 68m this year, two have gone past 70m, and there are many more who have been consistent but Krishna, who was sixth at 2012 London — the best by an Indian thrower ever at the Summer Games, feels the global pandemic could throw up plenty of surprises in Tokyo.