In a historic achievement for Indian athletics, Avinash Sable has become the first Indian man to qualify for the 3000m steeplechase final at the Paris Olympics 2024.
The 29-year-old from Beed, Maharashtra finished fifth in his heat with a time of 8:15.43, securing automatic qualification to the final which will be held on August 8th at 1:13 AM IST.]
Avinash Sable, who holds the national record in the event, started off strongly, leading the pack in the initial laps.
However, he was overtaken by runners from Kenya, Ethiopia, and Japan as the race progressed. Despite slowing down a bit, Sable remained in the top five throughout and comfortably made it to the final round.
Avinash Sable’s Road to the Olympics
Avinash Sable’s journey to the Olympics has been one of grit and determination. Hailing from a family of farmers in Beed, he used to work on brick kilns and construction sites during his college days to support his family.
Sable joined the Indian Army in 2013 and was posted to challenging locations like the Siachen Glacier and the deserts of Rajasthan. It was during this time that he switched from cross-country running to steeplechase in 2015.
Since then, there has been no looking back for Sable. He has broken the national record an incredible ten times, with his personal best of 8:09.91 coming at the Paris Diamond League last month. Sable won silver at the 2022 Commonwealth Games and the Asian Games, where he also clinched gold in the 5000m event.
Avinash Sable Aims for the Podium
With his qualification to the final, Sable has achieved his first target. However, he is now focused on winning a medal for India.
“I have worked hard since October-November after the Asian Games. I couldn’t do well in the previous Olympics. I have to do something in this Olympics. Let’s see. The rest of the hard work is good from my side. I have to prepare mentally and do well,” Sable told ANI.
The final will be a tough challenge with the best steeplechasers from around the world competing. But Sable’s resilience and never-say-die attitude make him a strong contender for the podium. If he manages to pull off a medal, it will be a historic moment for Indian athletics.
Avinash Sable’s qualification is a testament to the growing strength of Indian track and field athletes. With Neeraj Chopra already a gold medalist, the country will be hoping for more success stories from the Paris Olympics 2024.
