Diamond League: India's Avinash Sable aims to finish season strongly
India's 3000m steeplechase national record holder, Avinash Sable, is set to make his debut at the Diamond League final. The 29-year-old athlete will face a tough line-up of 12 competitors, including Morocco's Olympic champion Soufianne El Bakkali and Kenya's bronze medalist Abraham Kibiwot. The event is scheduled for Friday, September 13, in Brussels. Sable will be aiming to finish his season on a high and earn a notable finish. Here's more.
Sable's journey to the Diamond League final
Sable earned his spot in the final after four top-ranked steeplechasers withdrew from the competition. Although he ranked 14th in the Diamond League standings for the men's 3000m steeplechase, his standout performance at the Paris Diamond League secured him three points and a new national record with a time of 8:09.91 seconds. This was Sable's 10th time breaking his own national record.
Sable aims for top 8 finish in Brussels
Sable is resolved to surpass his previous performance at the Silesia Diamond League competition held in August, where he secured the 14th position with a time of eight minutes and 29.96 seconds. He aims to set another personal best (PB) and national record at the upcoming event in Brussels. If successful, this could potentially place him among the top eight competitors.
Neeraj Chopra to compete in men's javelin event
In a historic first, two Indians will be competing in the Diamond League final. Alongside Sable, Neeraj Chopra will also participate in the men's javelin event. Chopra solidified his position by achieving fourth place in the overall standings with a total of 14 points, earned from his impressive second-place finishes at the Doha and Lausanne meets. This marks another significant milestone for Indian athletics on the international stage.
Sable's notable career achievements
Sable's accomplishments include a silver medal in the 5000m at the 2022 Asian Games and a silver in the 3000m steeplechase at the 2022 Commonwealth Games. His career highlight was qualifying for the 2019 World Athletics Championships, becoming the first Indian male steeplechaser to do so since Deena Ram in 1991. Furthermore, he made history by reaching the final of the World Championships, becoming the first Indian to qualify for the 3000m steeplechase final at this prestigious event.
Entry list for the men's 3000m steeplechase final
Entry list for the men's 3000m steeplechase final features Asian Games gold medalist Sable, 2024 Olympic gold medalist El Bakkali, and bronze medalist Kibiwot. Entry list: Avinash Sable (India), Abraham Kibiwot (Kenya), Abraham Sime (Ethiopia), Daniel Arce (Spain), Abderrafia Bouassel (Morocco), Soufiane Bakkali(Morocco), Samuel Firewu (Ethiopia), Mohamed Amin Jhinaoui (Tunisia), Wilberforce Chemiat Kones (Kenya), Mohamed Tindouft (Morocco), and Getnet Wale (Ethiopia).
Sable finished 11th at 2024 Paris Olympics
Sable qualified for the 2024 Paris Olympics after placing sixth in the Silesian leg of the 2023 Diamond League with a time of 8:11.63. He finished 11th in Paris with a time of 8:14.18, and was the first Indian man to qualify for the Olympic final in this event. He qualified by meeting the direct entry standard of 8:15.00 in the heats. Sable clocked 8:15.43 minutes to finish fifth in the second heat to make it to the finals.
