It's my last CWG, but not retiring yet, says discus thrower Seema Punia

Commonwealth Games appearances since 2006, veteran discus thrower Seema Punia on Wednesday admitted that the Birmingham edition will be her last CWG but insisted that her career is not yet over. The 39-year-old Punia, the most decorated track and field athlete in the Commonwealth Games, will return home empty-handed for the first time since her silver medal-winning feat in the 2006 edition in Melbourne as she finished fifth on Tuesday night. She could only produce a best throw of 55.92m which she came up in her second attempt but that was not enough for a podium finish.

"This will be my last CWG but I'm not done yet, who knows I'll be there at the Paris Olympics," Punia told PTI. "The day I don't get my best in training, it will be my last. I don't chase after Games, I'm strong so I'm here.

"I think I can throw well at the Asian Games (next year). I'm very confident of a medal there. And, if I get to the 63-64m mark, I can also make the Olympics (Paris)." She said she has no regrets of having missed out on a medal in her last CWG here.

"No regrets... This was my fifth CWG which itself is a big achievement although there is no medal this time but I'm happy," she said. "You win some, you lose some.

Just imagine for how long you have been training and giving all your effort in a power sport like discus throw." Punia has won three silver -- 2006, 2014, 2018 -- and one bronze -- 2010 -- from her earlier four appearances in the CWG. "I cherish all my medals, even the ones I won at the district level. It doesn't matter at what level, but it takes a lot to win a medal," said Punia, who also has won a gold and a silver in the 2014 and 2018 Asian Games respectively.