What makes did Avinash Sable do at world championships, and how he plans to correct them at Asian Games | Asian-games News

Avinash Sable not qualifying for the final of the men’s 3000 metre steeplechase at the World Championships in Budapest was one of the disappointments for the Indian contingent. During a relatively slow Heat, Sable didn’t finish in the top-5 and missed out. Sable clocked 8 minutes and 22.24 seconds, much slower than his personal best of 8:11.20. Ahead of the Asian Games, Sable disclosed that he gave up too early in the race.
“During the last lap, I was ok till the water jump. But at the water jump, one foot of mine hit the other. Because of that I got durbed. I feel like after that I decided that I won’t be able to make it to the top 5. The Japanese runner (Ryoma Aoki) came from behind and also finished in the top 5. I gave up too early, that is what happened. So far in the last 200 metres, I have never given up, Sable said during a media briefing.
He says lessons have been learnt from the debacle at Budapest. After the race, a draught Sable spoke to coach Scott Simmons and the athlete-support team at JSW Sports. Not running in the inner lane at Budapest and conserving energy for the final was also a make, according to Sable. No matter the pace of the race, Sable says the focus is on running fast in the final 200 metres. Sable also felt not focussing on hurdles clearance during training this year affected his performance in the steeplechase.

“My strong point became my weak point and because of that I could not give my best. Like my hurdles technique or water jump. I could not do that well because I didn’t focus on that. I used to focus a lot on hurdles but in Colorado Springs (where he was training) I didn’t do as much (hurdle) training. I feel the work out in hurdles which I should have done but I didn’t. Because of that I could not do well in steeple. In the past 20-25 days (in Bengaluru), I focussed on hurdles and techniques that will help,” Sable said.
At last year’s World Championships in Eugene, in another slow race, Sable clocked 8:31.75 to finish 11th in the final. Though Sable felt he is capable of winning a slow race and has had a relook at his approach.
“Last time at the World Championships (2022) I also made a make… The final was slow and I was running towards the back. After that in the Commonwealth Games I thought, I don’t have to think of anything and just ran. I feel this year, the results were average in Diamond League also. But now the training I am doing in Bangalore, the coach has brought a lot of changes after the World Championships. Now, it is about accelerating towards the end, no matter at what pace a race is being run. That is what I have worked on. No matter how fast or slow a race is, in the last lap I have to be fast,” Sable said.
The Commonwealth Games last year is an example of what Sable can achieve when he goes all out. He won the country’s first medal in the men’s steeplechase at the CWG and clocked a personal best of 8:11.20 just 0.05 second behind’s Kenya’s Abraham Kibiwot, the gold medal winner.
Targeting a double
Sable promises a speedy race at the Asian Games in Hangzhou where he is attempting a double — the steeplechase and the 5000 metres.Most Read
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“This year, I didn’t run any race for timings. This is the last race of the season. This year I didn’t run any race for a national record. So for the Asian Games I will run for timing. The makes I have made this year… I feel like I can once again run at my best. Improving my personal best is my target,” Sable said.

At last year’s Commonwealth Games, Sable had attempted the 3000m steeplechase and the 5,000 metre double. But both were on the same day and Sable after the memorable silver in the steeplechase did not finish in the longer dance.
“I have not done a double event like this. Last year at the Commonwealth Games, I had done two events but 5,000 metres started on the same day and that race I could not complete it. But now I have been preparing since March for two events. Anyway in the world championships we were prepared for qualifying and the final round. Here steeplechase is a direct final (no heats) so that will be easy. After the steeplechase I get two days to recover before the 5000 metres. It will be difficult as we are competing against the best in Asia. Also I don’t have as much experience in steeplechase as I have in 5000 metres.”