IAAF World Athletics Championships: shot putter Gong takes third gold for China in Doha

The 30-year-old veteran eyes the Tokyo Olympics after winning her 13th title of year

China second in the medal table behind United States and can add silverware in men’s 20km race walk on Friday

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China’s Gong Lijiao celebrates after winning the world title in Doha. Photo: Xinhua

Published: 5:38pm, 4 Oct 2019Updated: 5:38pm, 4 Oct 2019

Shot putter Gong Lijiao won back-to-back world titles in Doha as China bettered their result from the lastWorld Athletics Championships in London two years ago.

Having already won 12 of her 13 competitions this year, Gong was clearly the woman to beat, and set out to show just that from the opening round where she shook off the rust with a 19.07 metres heave to take the lead, one she never relinquished.

The 30-year-old extended that to 19.55m in her fourth attempt and, despite being fouled in the last two rounds, she was never caught. Danniel Thomas-Dodd, of Jamaica, grabbed silver with her final throw of 19.47m. Third place went to Christina Schwanitz of Germany with 19.17m.

It was the third gold for China so far in Doha, one more than they achieved in London.

China’s Gong Lijiao competes in the shot put final at the 2019 IAAF World Athletics Championships in Doha. Photo: Xinhua

“I am so happy to win the gold but the result was a bit low, not as I have expected,” said the champion, who won the Diamond League in Zurich in August with 20.31m. She recorded 19.94m in London two years ago.

“It’s nice to wrap up the season with a major win and definitely gives me more confidence with the approach of the Olympic Games next year.