India’s medal tally at the Asian Athletics Championships continued to rise for the third consecutive day as Avinash Sable from Maharashtra clinched a historic gold medal in the 3,000-meter steeplechase event. With this remarkable victory, Sable has etched his name in the record books, becoming the first Indian in over three decades to win gold in this category.
The steeplechase event took place in the South Korean city of Gumi. Sable started the race strategically, maintaining a steady pace and staying in third place with six laps to go. As the race progressed, he gradually picked up speed. By the time there were four laps left, he was closely pursued by two Japanese runners. Japan's Yutaro Ninae temporarily overtook him with three laps remaining.
However, Sable made a decisive move in the final lap. Just before the first hurdle, he surged ahead, executing a smooth water jump and maintaining his momentum through the final stretch. He completed the race in 8 minutes 20.92 seconds, comfortably securing the gold medal. This victory is particularly significant as it ends a 34-year gold medal drought for India in this event. The last Indian to win the steeplechase gold was Dina Ram in 1989.
Meanwhile, in the women's category, Indian athlete Jyothi Yarraji also continued her golden run, winning her second consecutive gold medal in the 100-meter hurdles with a timing of 12.78 seconds at the 2023 Asian Championships. These victories highlight India's rising stature in Asian athletics and reflect the hard work and resilience of its athletes on the international stage.