India's Avinash Sable vows to give his best in Olympics steeplechase final

Paris: Indian athlete Avinash Sable is determined to make his mark in the men's 3000m steeplechase final at the ongoing Paris Olympics. Securing his spot after a solid performance, Sable clocked 8:15.43s to finish fifth in the second heat of the event.

Initially leading the pack with a strong start, Sable set the pace for the first two and a half minutes of the race before gradually losing ground to competitors. Kenya's Abraham Kiwiot and Ethiopia's Samuel Firewu surged ahead, pushing Sable down the rankings. By the midway point, Japan's Ryuji Miyura overtook Sable, further challenging his position. Despite these setbacks, Sable persisted, reclaiming the second spot momentarily before settling for fifth place, which secured his qualification for the final.

Reflecting on his performance, Sable expressed satisfaction with achieving his primary goal of reaching the final. Looking ahead, he emphasised his determination to deliver a strong performance in the upcoming race.

"The race went well. My first aim was to qualify for the final, and I'm glad I achieved that. Now, my focus is on performing to the best of my abilities in the final," Sable told ANI.

Sable, who holds the national record and is the Asian Games champion in the steeplechase, is motivated by his past experiences, including a disappointment at the Tokyo Olympics where he finished seventh in his heats and missed the final.

"I've been working hard since October-November after the Asian Games. The previous Olympics didn't go as planned for me, so this time, I'm determined to make a mark. I've put in a lot of effort, and I believe in my preparation. Mentally, I'm ready to give my best. The competition is tough, but I'm confident that my hard work will pay off," Sable added.

In the qualifying heats, Morocco's Mohamed Tindouft (8:10.62s), Ethiopia's Samuel Firewu (8:11.61s), Kenya's Abraham Kibiwot (8:12.02s), and Japan's Ryuji Miura (8:12.41s) secured the top four positions in Sable's heat. The stage is now set for Sable to showcase his skills in the final, scheduled to take place on Tuesday at the Stade de France.

With determination and focused preparation, Sable aims to leverage his hard work and experience to deliver a commendable performance in pursuit of Olympic success. ANI