Tokyo Olympics: Shot-putter Tajinder Pal Singh Toor targets 22 metres for Olympic glory | More sports News – Times of India

NEW DELHI: The taxi ride from Delhi airport to Moga (in Punjab) in 2018 still haunts India’s ace shot-putter Tajinder Pal Singh Toor. Toor had won a gold medal at the 2018 Asian Games and was on his way to his hometown, Moga. He was elated and was eagerly waiting to reach home and put his medal around his father’s neck. Toor had reached halfway when his phone rang and he received the news of his father Karam Singh’s demise. Karam was battling cancer and was in poor health.
Now, Toor is going to Tokyo, and wants to live his father’s long-cherished dream – to see his son represent the country at the Olympics.
Toor qualified for the Tokyo Olympics with a new national record at the Indian Grand Prix 4 in Patiala. The 26-year-old crossed the Olympic qualification mark of 21.10m with a throw of 21.49m. He threw 21.49m in his first attempt and broke his own national record.

“Daddy ka sapna tha, Teju Olympics jaye. Gale laga lete mujhe agar aaj ye wo ye news sunte (it was my father’s dream; he would have hugged me after hearing about my Olympic qualification news). Whatever I am today, it is because of him. He always wanted to see me in an Olympic jersey. I dedicate this Olympic berth to my father. Wish he was here to see me. I want to win an Olympic medal and dedicate it to my father. I am sure he must be watching me and must be happy,” Toor told Timesofindia.com in an exclusive interview
After throwing 21.49m in his first attempt, the 26-year-old then recorded distances of 21.28m, 21.12m 21.13m in his third, fourth and fifth efforts. All the throws were above the Olympic qualification mark (21.10m).
So how does this attempt by Toor compare with what the men’s shot-put medal winners at the London (2012) and Rio (2016) Games achieved?

In the 2012 London Olympics, Poland’s Tomasz Majewski clinched the gold medal, throwing a distance of 21.89 metres. Germany’s David Storl won the silver (21.86metres) and United States’ Reese Hoffa threw a distance of 21.23 to claim the bronze medal.
In the 2016 Olympics in Rio, United States’ Ryan Crouser won the gold medal. He threw 22.52 metres to claim the top honours. United States’ Joe Kovacs settled for the silver medal (21.78 metres), while New Zealand’s Tomas Walsh claimed the bronze medal (21.36m).
Toor feels a throw of 22 metres or above will be enough to win a medal in Tokyo.

“My target is to throw 22 metres. I want to throw 22 metres and beyond. I am not thinking about anything else right now. I have to maintain this mark. I want to keep myself fit and injury-free. If I throw 22 metres and more, I will have a big chance of winning a medal for my country. I want to become the first Olympic medallist in shot-put for my country,” Toor further told TimesofIndia.com.
“It has been a long wait (for Olympic qualification). I had the chance of securing the Olympic berth earlier, but I suffered a fracture in February and missed out on the tournament. I had a problem with my knee. My family is so happy. They were waiting for this day for such a long time. I am happy I have made my family’s dream come true,” the shot-putter signed off.