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In what came as terrific news for India on Sunday (October 1) evening, Avinash Sable clinched the gold medal in the 3000m steeplechase event, and he did so in supreme fashion. It was one of the most dominant displays in the steeplechase event in recent times as Sable finished at the top of the podium without even breaking a sweat. Sable clocked a time of 8.19.54 and clinched India's 12th gold and first in Athletics. Sable broke the Asian Games record and set a new mark with his outstanding display on the track. Also, this is the first time in history that an Indian has won the gold medal in the 3000m steeplechase event at the Asian Games.
Earlier, Sudha Singh clinched a prestigious gold in the women's 3000m steeplechase during the 2010 Asian Games held in Guangzhou, marking a memorable achievement for India.
However, in a contrasting turn of events, Swapna Barman, the star Indian heptathlete who rose to national prominence during the last Asian Games, encountered a series of challenges in her bid for glory this year. Plagued by injuries, the defending champion experienced setbacks in her performance, particularly in the javelin throw segment. From a personal best record of 52.55m, Swapna managed a throw of only 45.13m this time, a far cry from her gold-winning feat in the 2018 Games.
Currently, Barman stands in the fourth position, accumulating 4840 points, just trailing behind Jingyi Liu of China by 11 points as they gear up for the final 800m race.
Nandini Agasara, another Indian athlete competing in the heptathlon, recorded a personal best with a 39.88m javelin throw. This achievement pushed her to the fifth position in the overall rankings. Earlier, both Swapna and Nandini showcased their skills in the long jump segment, achieving distances of 5.71m and 5.94m, respectively.
Swapna's journey to the Asian Games has been one of resilience and determination. Despite grappling with a debilitating spinal injury that once led her to consider retirement, she remained undeterred. Committed to her passion, she clinched top honours at the Inter-State meet and secured a silver medal in the lead-up to the Asian Games. Prioritizing her sport, she even opted out of a potential surgery to ensure continuous training, demonstrating her unwavering dedication.
As the Asian Games progress, fans and supporters eagerly anticipate the outcomes, rooting for both Sudha Singh and Swapna Barman to shine.
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