'From almost calling it quits to scoring a national high' - Kamalpreet Kaur's self-belief is soaring ahead of Tokyo 2020
Kamalpreet Kaur became the first Indian woman to breach 65m mark in discus throw and will be the country's sole representative in the field event at the Olympics
Cuban athlete Denia Caballero won the bronze medal in the women's discus throw event at Rio 2016 with a throw of 65.34m. The silver medal went to Melina Robert-Michon from France (66.73m) while Croatian star Sandra Perkovic bagged the gold with an effort of 69.21m.
Tokyo-bound Kamalpreet Kaur, who recently became India's first woman to breach the 65m mark in the discus throw, almost matched the distance Caballero managed at Rio 2016 in her only legitimate throw (65.06m) at this month's Federation Cup Senior Athletics Championship earlier this month.
Small wonder then that Kaur is confident of competing for a podium spot at Tokyo 2020 - provided that she tweaks her technique in the crucial months ahead of the Games - while training under her coach Rakhi Tyagi.
"In the last Olympics (Rio), a bronze medal was earned with a 65m throw. My first throw here (Federation Cup) was of 65m and others were foul. I want to improve my throws and am working on making sure I don't commit any fouls (at Tokyo 2020)," Kaur told the Olympic Channel.
"I'm still working on my technique as it is not perfect. My upper portion (of the body) is a bit fast and the lower is on the slower side," she added.
Her technique may not be perfect, but Kaur is in a better headspace, having fought off the doubts that once almost made her quit.
And while her throw of 65.06m at the Federation Cup not only breached the Olympic qualification mark of 63.50m, but also broke the national record of 64.76 set by Krishna Poonia in 2012, there was a time when even a distance of 58m too looked far-fetched for Kaur.
"The biggest twist (in my life) came at the Asian Games 2018. The Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast was held before that but I didn't try owing to a back injury. So when I was trying for Asian Games and attempting a 60m throw. I needed to breach the 58m but I could only manage a throw around 56m and I missed out on the qualification," Kaur said.
"I thought of leaving the game then. I used to come home and cry everyday and also whenever I was alone.
"As everyone thinks of doing their best at the Asian Games. I used to think, 'I practiced so hard and still didn't achieve anything.' That is when I thought of leaving the game."
However, Kaur's family and coach had a lot of belief in her ability and supported her through the tough times. And she has something tangible to show for her perseverance - a Tokyo 2020 spot and a national record. However, she is confident in achieving much more in Tokyo, a few months later.
"But my family and coach motivated me then. My initial aim was to throw 65m. I've achieved that. But I want to reach till 68m at the Olympics."
Kaur, 25, has given the Indian athletic contingent a shot in the arm by sealing an Olympic berth. She is the only discus thrower from India to qualify for Tokyo 2020 till now and will have a lot of hopes pinned on her.