Avinash Sable Gears Up for Medal Hunt at World Athletics Championship 2025

India’s premier 3000m steeplechase athlete Avinash Sable is once again set to fly the tricolor high at the World Athletics Championship 2025, scheduled to be held in Tokyo this September. The 30-year-old from Beed, Maharashtra, who rose from humble beginnings and an Army background, is now fully recovered from an injury that hampered his 2024 season—and is focused like never before on clinching a historic medal for India.

A Setback That Tested His Limits

The year 2024 was a difficult chapter in Sable’s career. Just as he was preparing for the Asian Games, he suffered a medial tibial stress syndrome—a shin injury common among high-impact runners. This significantly derailed his competition calendar, forcing him to pull out of the Paris Diamond League, and sidelining him from key races including the Indian National Open Athletics Championship.

“It was frustrating. I wanted to prove myself, but my body just wouldn’t cooperate,” Sable admitted in a candid interview with AFI (Athletics Federation of India).

Comeback Trail: Signs of Recovery

In early 2025, Avinash Sable returned to the track with strategic participation in international meets. He clocked:

• 8:22.59 mins at the Xiamen Diamond League in China
• 8:23.85 mins at the Shaoxing meet

While these timings were slightly behind his national record, they signaled a positive return. The critical component—race confidence—was finally building up again.

Bangkok Glory: Asian Gold Medal in 2025

Sable’s full-circle comeback came at the 2025 Asian Athletics Championships in Bangkok, where he clocked 8:20.92 mins to win Gold in his favorite event. Not only did he outperform several strong contenders from Japan and Qatar, but he also looked in complete control throughout the race.

“Winning the Asian title was a psychological boost. It helped me believe that I can still dominate,” Sable said after receiving his medal.

Sub-8 Minutes: A Steeplechase Dream in Sight

Currently, Avinash Sable holds the Indian national record of 8:09.91, a timing he achieved in the Silesia Diamond League 2023. But the big dream is to break the 8-minute barrier—a feat achieved by only a handful of world-class athletes like Soufiane El Bakkali (Morocco) and Lamecha Girma (Ethiopia).

“It’s more than just a number. Running under 8 minutes means entering the world elite. I want to prove that Indians can do it too,” he said at a media interaction in Ooty.

Sable has been working intensively with his Kenyan coach Jaap van der Merwe, refining water jumps, pace transitions, and energy conservation techniques. Training in Ooty’s high-altitude camp has been a key part of his strategy, simulating race-day intensity and elevation endurance.

World Athletics Championship 2025: The Real Test

The World Championships in Tokyo will be Sable’s third appearance:

• 2022 (Eugene): Just missed out on the finals, finishing 7th in the heats.
• 2023 (Budapest): Failed to finish due to aggravated shin discomfort.
• 2025 (Tokyo): Aiming for personal best and a podium finish.

Sable’s team has confirmed he will compete in two key Diamond League events—Monaco (July) and London (August)—as final prep races. These will help test his race rhythm against top-tier opponents.

Medal Prospects: Why India Believes in Avinash Sable

India has never won a World Championship medal in a track endurance event. With Neeraj Chopra dominating javelin and Murali Sreeshankar rising in long jump, Avinash Sable’s success would add diversity to India’s athletic rise.

What makes him stand out?

• Military discipline: A former Army havildar, Sable’s work ethic is unmatched.
• Altitude advantage: Regular training in Ooty and Kenya has sharpened his endurance.
• Consistency: Barring injury, he’s one of India’s most reliable track performers.
• Experience: Raced against and learned from world’s best like El Bakkali and Getnet Wale.

Quick Glance: Avinash Sable’s 2025 Profile

SSC MTS 2025 Syllabus: जानिए पूरा सिलेबस और पेपर पैटर्न एक ही जगह