United States-based Gowda hurled the 2kg disc to a distanceof 64.79m in his first attempt, well below his personal best of 66.28m which herecorded in the run-up to the Games.
A personal best would not have been enough for the29-year-old Indian to have climbed the podium but after his fifth-place finishat the qualification round yesterday by clearing 65.20m, it was expected thathe would put up a good fight.
His first attempt 64.79m ensured him that he remained in thecompetition at seventh after the first round of three attempts following whichfour of the 12 throwers were eliminated.
But after that Gowda failed to lift his performance as hisnext five throws read 60.95m, 63.03m, 64.15m, 64.48m and 63.89m.
Reigning world champion Robert Harting of Germany won goldwith a throw of 68.27m which he achieved in his fifth attempt while the silverwent to Asian champion Ehsan Hadadi of Iran who cleared 68.18m in his firstthrow.
2008 Beijing Olympics winner Gerd Kanter of Estonia baggedthe bronze with the season's best throw of 68.03m which he came up in his fifththrow.
Gowda thus ended his campaign on a disappointing note as hefailed to better his personal best though he had become only the seventh Indianto have qualified for the final round in track and field event of the OlympicGames.
