New Delhi: Vikas Gowda, one of India's finest discus throwers in recent times, has decided to call it a day. A gold medallist in the Commonwealth Games and Asian championships, the 34-year-old athlete, at one point of time, was India's biggest hope in field events in Olympics.

Gowda's decision to quit came a day after the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) said all athletes aspiring to make the Indian team for the Jakarta Asian Games, will have appear for the inter-state meet in Guwahati next month.

Gowda has not competed in a major event in the last one year and was believed to be nursing injuries.

In 2012 London, Gowda, who trained in the US for many years, reached the final before finishing eighth with a throw of 64.79 metres. It was, however, far below his personal best of 66.28 metres, which is a national record.

He comes from a family of athletes as his father was a reputed coach.

"We have received a letter from the athlete about his decision to quit," said an AFI official. "It is his personal decision," he added.

Gowda's retirement from the sport has not come as a surprise as he is certainly past his prime. The last time he made a podium finish for India was in the Asian championship in Bhubaneswar in 2017 when he clinched a bronze medal with a throw of 60.81 metres. He was definitely a shadow of his earlier self, especially in comparison with his performance in 2013 and 2014.

AFI sources said Gowda, perhaps, had no option but to call it a day since his chances of making the national team for the Asian Games was remote.