Discus thrower in action (© Getty Images)
Silinda Morales of Cuba has only been competing in her home country so far, but she enters the competition as the favourite with the best mark of 53.21m and a host of other performances well beyond the 50-metre line.
A second Cuban, Melany Matheus, should be one of her top rivals, having beaten Morales three times in their eight encounters this season, including the national senior championships, where she finished fourth and set her personal best of 52.22m.
Completing the list of top three favourites is Yin Yuanyuan of China, national U18 champion this year with 52.41m.
The other two entrants who have broken 50 metres this year are the South African Tharina van der Walt (also a top-class hammer thrower) with 50.85m and the second Chinese Liu Quantong with 50.33m.
Pawel Jackowski for the IAAF
