Last two years have been difficult: Vikas

Vikas had a chance to make it three in a row but after recovering from injuries, he wasn’t yet in the form needed to go for gold. “It is okay, I am still trying to come back to my best form. It is a little harder as you get older. Considering that, I am happy with the medal,” said Vikas, after finishing third with a best of 60.81 on Thursday.

“I have maintained a high level for a long time but last two years have been difficult with injuries. But this gives me the confidence to look forward to the next year, to the Asian and Commonwealth Games,” said Vikas, who is the defending Commonwealth Games champion and the silver winner at the Asian Games.

Vikas brushed aside the issues related to his fitness trials here. “It was okay. Anyway I was here and it was right at the venue the event was going to take place. I wasn’t bothered by that. But if the event was in Australia and the trials were scheduled here, I would have been concerned,” said the Mysuru-born thrower.

Vikas felt he needed to put in more work to get his strength back. “Technically, I was okay. I need to get back the old strength. In 5-6 months I should be able to do that and that should put me in good stead for the Commonwealth and Asian Games,” he said.

A win here would have earned him a ticket to the World Championships in London next month. Having missed that, Vikas wasn’t sure whether he would try again in the coming weeks to meet the qualifying standard.