CWG athletics: Gowda lashes out after dad denied pass

NEW DELHI - Shortly after bagging the country’s first silver in athletics at the Delhi Commonwealth Games, men’s discus thrower Vikas Gowda lashed out at the authorities for denying his father-cum-personal coach Shive Gowda a pass.

The heavily built Gowda said he was “satisfied” and “happy” with his performance but “very unhappy about the authorities’ attitude.

With no other way out, he bought a ticket and look, there he is seated in the gallery to watch me in action, Gowda said, pointing to a particular spot in the galleries.

Till the last moment, I requested the authorities for a pass for him. But they did not agree. My father also pleaded with them yesterday, but to no avail, the 27-year-old Gowda told reporters at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium.

Gowda hurled the metal to a distance of 63.69 metres to take the bronze.

Australia’s Benn Harradine earned the gold by sending the discus soaring to a distance of 65.45m, while the bronze went o Carl Andrew Myerscough of Canada who manged a throw of 60.64m.

I am fed up with the series of problems which are continuing for the last three years, said the Mysore-born Godwa, who grew up in USA’s Maryland.

However, asked about his feelings on the winning the silver, Godwa replied: I am very happy and satisfied. I had set a target of a 65-metre plus throw. But this is also satisfactory.

I had only 54 metre plus throws in the Delhi Asian All Star meet. I got injured last year. And I had been having problems with my throws since my return, added Gowda.