The games8217;s over

Why he didn8217;t get the ticket: Fail to achieve the Olympic qualifying mark of 20.30m.

What about Beijing: Haven8217;t thought about it. I have seen 8216;40 plus8217; athletes actively participating in the international meets, I am only 37 right now. If I remain fit, you8217;ll definitely see me at Beijing.

A word for the qualifiers: 22.47m is the Olympic record which stands intact since 8217;88 Seoul Games. I don8217;t see any Indian reaching that mark. However, Bahadur Singh has done well this year and, if he shows the same kind of form which he did at the qualifying competition at Ukraine, he can make it to the final. One never knows he might also return with a medal from Athens.

8212; Ateet Sharma

SHAKTISPEAK

I got four or five chances to qualify for Athens, but could never go beyond 19.64m this year. I also couldn8217;t practice for around six months after the Afro-Asian Games as my wife was unwell. Though I did win a few domestic competitions on my return, it was too late. I was in fine form during the Bangalore domestic meet but luck deserted me. Rain interrupted the proceedings and that hampered my throws.