14 May, 2016

Discus Women: Revenge is sweet for record-breaking Perkovics

Olympic champion Sandra Perkovic extended her world lead as she exacted revenge on Cuba’s Beijing world champion Denia Caballero and sealed her third straight Shanghai Diamond League win. The Croatian led at half way with 67.73 before unleashing a fourth round throw of 70.88 to eclipse her own Diamond League and Shanghai meeting record from two years ago. Caballero had led after round two with 66.14, but that was to prove her best as Australia’s 2009 world champion Dani Samuels snatched the second place points with a sixth round throw of 67.77. Su Xinyue delighted the home crowd by making the last four, the two-times Asian champion producing her best of the year to finish behind Caballero with 64.45.

Sandra Perkovic: This victory means a lot to me. To open my season with a meeting record and world lead is a great start. I have never been in better shape and I am actually a little angry with myself that I did not throw a little further. Maybe I will do that at Prefontaine. I have never been in better shape. For the first time in many years I am healthy without back, knee and ankle problems. I am 100 per cent healthy. I know I have to be in great shape to be in the fight to win gold and deliver my dream of gold at the Rio Olympics.

Xinyue Su: I feel good about the competition today. I started a bit late in the winter training, but I have already reached the 61m which can make me push harder in the future. I wish I could get in the top three in the Rio Olympics, so I will cheer myself up and work harder in the following trainings.