$20,000 throw on

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New Delhi, Oct. 18: Commonwealth Games women’s gold medallist discus thrower Krishna Poonia is not aware of any $20,000 winner-takes-all contest with world champion Dani Samuels of Australia but she is ready for it if it materialises, her husband said on Monday.

Australian media reports said Dani was hurt by Krishna’s pre-Games comment that her “poor form” was the reason behind her pull out from the just-concluded CWG and she now wants a ‘revenge match.’

“A sponsor has offered $20,000 winner-takes-all, making it the biggest cash prize for a discus event in the world. The prestigious Diamond League offers $10,000 prize money, well we’ve doubled that to give Poonia her shot at the champ,” Australian media quoted Dani’s coach Denis Knowles as saying.

Krishna’s husband and coach Virendra said they have not been contacted for such a contest so far but are ready for it provided the Athletics Federation of India agrees to it. “We have not been contacted as yet, I am just hearing from journalists. But we are are ready if such a contest is happening,” Virendra said from Jaipur.

“We are leaving for NIS Patiala to train for next month’s Asian Games. We have to take permission from the AFI if a proposal for such a contest is there,” he said.

“Krishna had beaten Dani Samuels at a competition at Salinas at California in United States in 2008. So, we are ready for such a contest,” he added.

The Australian media reports said Sydney Olympic Park’s world-class athletic centre would host the contest and Dani’s coach said he would appoint an agent to secure Indian television coverage of the duel.

Krishna’s throw of 61.51m not only made her the first Indian track-and-field athlete to win a Commonwealth gold medal in 52 years but she also became the first Indian woman to win a CWG gold.

Krishna, 33, has a personal best of 63.69m, which she did in April while Dani has a best of 65.84m which she threw in February.

Pic Caption:
Krishna Poonia