Bengaluru
India’s top 3000m steeplechaser Avinash Sable is aiming for redemption at the upcoming World Athletics Championships in September, with a renewed focus on improving his personal best and breaking the elusive eight-minute barrier.
Now fit after a prolonged calf injury that hampered his performance since the 2023 Asian Games, the 30-year-old is undergoing high-altitude training in Ooty and refining his form at the Sports Authority of India’s Southern Centre in Bengaluru. “Last year was difficult. I didn’t think I’d bounce back,” said Sable. “But I’ve been training well and competing in the Diamond League.”
He opened the 2025 season with times of 8:22.59 in Xiamen and 8:23.85 in Shaoxing before clinching gold at the Asian Championships in South Korea with an improved 8:20.92. “My goal is to run close to eight minutes. I’ve worked on endurance, race finishing, and staying injury-free.”
Sable, a two-time Olympian, had failed to qualify for the finals at the last World Championships but is confident of a stronger showing this year. He credits his current progress to guidance from AFI coach Kalyan Chaudhari and a return to techniques used under former coach Nikolai Snesarev.
Before the Worlds, he plans to race in the Morocco Diamond League and another Indian meet. “I’ll stay back in Morocco to train at Ifrane. The conditions are ideal,” he added. Sable still holds the national record of 8:09.91 and remains focused on making history for Indian athletics.