Avinash Sable, who took up running in 2015, has broken national records almost at will in the past. He won a gold medal at the 2023 Asian Games and a silver at the 2022 Commonwealth Games.
Avinash Sable vows to make amends for past mistakes and hopes to have the best Olympics
A well-known name at home, but he has yet to prove his worth as a top-level runner, a 3,000-meter steeplechase runner. Marta Avinash wants to correct the mistakes it has made in recent years and offer a memorable show in the next Paris Olympic Games with a different approach.
Sable, who started racing in 2015, has broken national records almost at will in the past. He also won a gold medal in the Asian Games in 2023 and a silver at the 2022 Commonwealth Games.
But the Paris Olympics could be her last chance at redemption on the world stage for Sable, who turns 30 in September. She will be close to turning 34 at the next Olympics in the United States.
“I made mistakes in the last two years. I had been in good form at the two world championships (2022 and 2023), but I couldn’t do well at both. I want to make amends, I hope these Olympics will be the best,” Sable said.
Sable, who won gold in the 3,000-meter hurdles at the National Interstate Championships here while running like he was in a practice session, has broken national records nine times.
But somehow, Sable has failed to shine on the world stage except during the 2022 CWG where she broke the Kenyans’ medal monopoly by winning a silver medal.
He finished 11th in the 3000m steeplechase final at the 2022 World Championships in the USA and was eliminated in the preliminary round heats at the 2023 edition in Hungary. His best performance in the prestigious five-meet Diamond League series has been a fifth-place finish.
“I contracted COVID-19 twice before the Tokyo Olympics. Then last year I also made mistakes. Every year, I used to start my steeplechase season very early in April or May. But when I wanted to control myself at the last minute , I found myself unable to compete.
“That’s why this time I start my competition season later. This time I do it differently. I will start to reach my peak performance this month. If I start to reach my peak performance soon, people (competitors) will notice me” said Sable, who has a personal best of 8:11.20.
Prior to the National Inter-State, Sable has run just one 3000m steeplechase, at the Portland Track Festival on June 8 in the US, where she trains.
“I came here after a full training session and that’s why I decided to run here as a kind of repeat. In the first kilometer I just ran along with the others. In the last few laps I pushed myself a little, let’s say between 75 and 80 percent of my capacity.
“At the Paris Diamond League on July 7, I may not do my best to reach my peak, but I will have the opportunity to test myself for the Olympic Games.
“After that I would like to train at high altitude in Europe and then join the team on July 25. So the preparation has been very good.”
Sable said he was concentrating on the final kick and was able to test himself in Panchkula during the race. “The middle of the race is not difficult, but the last push is important and necessary.”
When asked about the two 5,000m races and one 10,000m race he ran earlier this year, he said, “…my goal wasn’t those events. It was just to compete a little bit.”
As for the world 3000m steeplechase scene, he said: “The steeplechase scene is pretty good, there’s Soufiane El Bakkali (from Morocco) and Lamecha Girma (from Ethiopia). But this year in the steeplechases of DL, so far I haven’t seen anything spectacular.
“It will be a technical race and I’m ready for it. Let’s see what happens.”
