"It was at the back of my mind when I started and I knew it had happened a long time ago," Vikas Gowda said, t... Read More

NEW DELHI: "I'm happy to break the jinx," Commonwealth Games gold medalist Vikas Gowda told TOI after winning the discus gold on Thursday.

"It was at the back of my mind when I started and I knew it had happened a long time ago," he said, talking about Milkha Singh 's gold in 1958, the last time an Indian male had won gold in the Commonwealth Games.

Gowda's big moment in the final came on his third attempt when he landed the disc at 63.64m to beat the challenge from a strong field. Apostolos Parellis of Cyprus took the silver with 63.32m, followed by Jason Morgan of Jamaica (62.34m).

Milkha's gold came in the Cardiff Games when he won the men's 440-yard race in 46.6 seconds.

He beat South Africa's Malcolm Spencer who finished second in 46.9 seconds. The previous silver medal winners for India in the men's section were Praveen Kumar (hammer throw, 1966), Mohinder Singh Gill (triple jump, 1974) and Vikas (2010).

The 31-year-old Mysorean, towering at 6'9", said the sharp showers during the competition played spoilsport. "The rain affected all of us. It was very slippery in the ring. I could have done better if not for the showers. My best throw was the fourth one but unfortunately it became a foul," Gowda said from Glasgow.

"It was a strong field as there were at least 5-6 throwers who could have won the title. But I always believed that I was a medal contender and was confident about taking the honours," he added.

Asked about his preparation for the Games, the soft-spoken champion said: "After the New York Diamond League on June 14, I went back home. This was my first competition after that. It really helped that I got to stay at one place for six weeks and it really helped," Gowda said.

Looking ahead to the hectic season, the champion thrower said he will begin his Asian Games challenge after returning to the Diamond League circuit.

Though Vikas is yet to watch 'Bhaag Milkha Bhaag', the star athlete recalled that he once met Milkha at the airport. "It was a brief meeting at the New York airport when we were on our way to India," he said.