Vikas Gowda wins India`s first athletics gold at 2014 CWG

Glasgow: Vikas Gowda brought in India`s first athletics medal from the 2014 Commonwealth Games when he won the discus throw gold in the final at the Hampden Park Stadium here Thursday.

With the achievement, Gowda became India`s only second male athlete to win a gold at the Commonwealth Games after the legendary Milkha Singh won the 440 yard gold way back in 1958 at Cardiff. The 31-year-old Gowda converted the silver he had won four years ago in New Delhi in to the yellow metal with a best throw of 63.64 metres which he achieved on his third attempt out of six. Cypriot Apostolos Parellis took the silver with a best throw of 63.32m while Jamaican Jason Morgan held on to the bronze with 62.34m. Gowda, who also an Asian Games bronze to his name, bettered his throw each time on his first three attempts from 60.63m to 62.09 to 63.64. But his fourth and sixth attempts were disqualified with the fifth reading 62.17m. He had earned the silver in 2010 New Delhi games with a best throw of 63.69m.