Olympic champ Perkovic wins discus gold in Shanghai Diamond League

Shanghai, May 14: Olympic champion Sandra Perkovic opened her World Diamond League discus season campaign with a league record win here on Saturday.

The Croatian nailed the women's discus title in her fourth throw in 70.88 metres while Australian Dani Samuels finished second in 67.77, reports Xinhua.

Beijing World Championships winner Denia Caballero, who beat Perkovic in Beijing last year by more than two metres, had to settle for the bronze in 66.14. China's Su Xinyue posted a personal best of 64.45 to rank fourth.

The women's high jump saw Beijing World Championship finalist Levern Spencer of St. Lucia clear 1.94 metres to edge Nadezhda Dusanova of Uzbekistan who jumped over the same height but with more attempts. European bronze medallist Ana Simic from Croatia was third in 1.92.

Kurt Roberts emerged the surprise winner in the men's shot put in 21.40 metres instead of his title favourite United State compatriots Joe Kovacs and Ryan Whiting.

World outdoor champion, Joe Kovacs, last year's Diamond Race winner walked away with a bronze in 20.82. 

New Zealand's recently crowned world indoor champion, Tom Walsh, took silver in 21.20. Two-time world indoor champion Whiting finished a disappointing eighth.