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In an unforeseen twist at the World Athletics Championships, India's national record holder in the 3000m steeplechase, Avinash Sable, could not make it past the heats, ending seventh in his event on Saturday. Despite undergoing intensive training abroad, majorly funded by the Sports Ministry, Sable clocked 8 minutes and 22.24 seconds, finishing well below his national record time of 8:11.20.
The race was a tactical battle, with Sable leading the pack at the 2300m mark. However, a notable drop in his momentum during the final lap pushed him down the ranks. Considering only the top five from the three heats could advance, this result has come as a significant setback for the Indian contingent, especially on the inaugural day of the championships.
Sable, a consistent performer at global events, was making his third appearance at the World Championships. Strikingly, this marks the first time he hasn't progressed to the finals. Previous editions saw him place 11th and 13th respectively.
In other notable performances, world record holder Lamecha Girma from Ethiopia dominated the heats, clocking 8:15.89. Olympic and world champion, Soufiane El Bakkali of Morocco, closely followed with a time of 8:23.66.
The men's 20km race walk, too, witnessed a subdued performance from the Indian athletes. Vikash Singh, Paramjit Singh, and Akashdeep Singh finished 28th, 35th, and 47th respectively out of 50 competitors. Notably, Akashdeep, the national record holder, finished last, underlining a day of unexpected results for the Indian camp.
Reflecting on Sable's journey, he has been training under the guidance of renowned coach Scott Simmons in Colorado Springs, USA. His rigorous regime, supported by the Target Olympic Podium Scheme of the sports ministry, bore fruit last year when he clinched silver at the 2022 Commonwealth Games. In the lead-up to the current championship, Sable also participated in three Diamond League events, where his performance in Silsea, Poland, ensured him an early qualification for the Paris Olympics 2024.
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