India’s shot put champion Tajinderpal Singh Toor had a disappointing outing at the Paris Olympics, failing to qualify for the finals after a below-par performance on Friday. The 29-year-old, a two-time Asian Games gold-medallist, finished 15th in Group A with a throw that was far from his personal best, ranking 29th overall in the competition.

Toor’s performance fell short of the Olympic Qualification Standard of 21.35 meters, which was required to advance to the final round. Only the top 12 athletes, either meeting the qualification standard or being among the best performers, made it through to the final, which is scheduled for Sunday.

This result marks a setback for Toor, who had been one of India’s strong contenders in athletics. Despite his decorated career and consistent performances at the continental level, he struggled to find his form on the world’s biggest stage.

In other athletics events, India’s hopes were further dampened as long-distance runners Parul Chaudhary and Ankita Dhyani failed to qualify for the women’s 5000m finals. Both athletes were unable to match the pace set by the leading pack in their respective heats, ending their Olympic campaigns earlier than hoped.

The underwhelming performances across these events have dealt a blow to India’s athletics prospects at the Paris Games. As the competition progresses, the focus will now shift to the remaining athletes in action, as they aim to secure medals for the nation.