Vikas Gowda , Class: Junior, Hometown: Frederick, Md., High School: Frederick, Height: 6-9, Event: Throws,

Carolina, May 25, 2004

A NRI, Vikas Gowda student at the University of North Carolina (UNC), US has broken an almost 10-year-old national discus record of his homeland.

He threw the discus 63.34 metres in the Hartnel College Throws Invitational Meet last week. Gowda also holds the Carolina outdoor record with a throw of 194.7 feet (59.34 metres) at an event last year. This distance is better than India 's national record of 61.72 metres, established by veteran Shakti Singh at Bangalore on June 25, 1994 . The Asian record stands in the name of Shaojie Li of China . Li had established a record of 65.16 metres at Nanjing , China , May 7, 1996 .

But the AFI is not ready to recognise the feat of the 21-year-old Gowda, who stays in Frederick , Maryland . "I am aware of the feat," said AFI secretary Lalit Bhanot, adding: "But, before recognising it as a record we will have to ascertain whether it was a recognised meet and a few other things."

Gowda also holds the Carolina outdoor record with a throw of 194.7 feet (59.34 metres) at an event last year.

2003: In outdoor – Set a Carolina men’s outdoor record in the discus with a throw of 194-7 at the Texas Relays…An NCAA Championship qualifier in the discus and finished 5th (191-10) to earn all-america honors…Finished second at the NCAA Regional with a throw of 188-0…ACC champion in the discus (187-5)…Had four first place discus finishes in total…Besides the ACC Championships, won the discus event at the Eagle meet (183-4), the 49er Classic (181-7 1/2) and at the Raleigh Relays (177-1)….In the shot put, earned fifth place at the ACC Championships with a shot put of 54-2 3/4…Placed second at the Charlotte Invitational in the shot put, with a mark of 54-1…In indoor – Competed in the shot put…Top mark of 57-5 1/2 at Carolina fast Times (3rd place)…Earned third at the ACC Championships with a toss of 57-0…Won the shot put at the Heels Challenge (56-7 1/2) and at the NC Big 12 (54-3 1/4).

2002: In indoor- placed sixth at the BH Rumble ... In outdoor, Posted 16 Top-10 finishes as a freshman ... Set a new personal best in discus (181-0) at Penn Relays to finish fourth ... Finished first at the 49er Classic in shot put (54-7 1/2) and fourth in discus (148-10) ... All-ACC in the discus ... Participated for India in the Junior World Games during the summer of 2002 ... Finished eighth in the shot put, 12th in the discus.

Prep: Won five Maryland state titles in outdoor track ... Two state titles in indoor track ... Holds the state discus record ... Adidas outdoor discus champion ... Holds Adidas meet record.

Personal: Born July 5, 1983 ... Son of Shive and Vijaya Gowda ... Born in India ... Majoring in Statistics ... His father coached the 1988 Indian Olympic Track Team