Kristjan Čeh advances to final with first-round throw

Slovenian discus thrower Kristjan Čeh has confidently advanced to the final of the European Athletics Championships in Birmingham. The reigning champion secured his place with an impressive first throw of 67.52 meters, easily surpassing the automatic qualifying mark of 66 meters.

Čeh, competing in Group B, did not need to take further attempts after his initial success. This performance places him in strong contention for the title he defended.

In the same group, Lithuanian Mykolas Alekna also demonstrated strong form, qualifying for the final with a throw of 67.74 meters. Alekna, a silver medalist at the previous Olympics, is considered a significant competitor.

Meanwhile, three-time world champion Daniel Ståhl of Sweden encountered challenges during his qualification rounds. Despite being the top performer in Group A, Ståhl had two fouls and one valid throw of 63.95 meters, indicating he may not be at his peak form for the competition.