Indian steeplechaser Avinash Sable has declared himself fully fit after a 14-month absence. The athlete is confident of retaining his Asian Games 3000m steeplechase title at the Aichi-Nagoya Games later this month.
The 31-year-old suffered a torn ACL and meniscus injury after falling at the water jump during the Monaco Diamond League in July 2025. The subsequent surgery forced him to miss the World Championships and the recent Glasgow Commonwealth Games. However, Avinash is back and is ready to repeat the iconic performance to retain the title in Asia.
Coming off injury, India star confident of defending gold at Asian Games 2026
During the long recovery, marked by self-doubt and emotional challenges, Sable admitted he once considered quitting the sport. Rehabilitation began with light jogging months after surgery. Training intensity increased in the following months, including high-altitude sessions in Ooty, time at the Inspire Institute of Sport in Bellary, and recent work at the Sports Authority of India’s Southern Centre in Bengaluru.
Sable now says his fitness has returned to the level that delivered gold at the Hangzhou Asian Games and success at the 2025 Asian Athletics Championships. After a difficult period away from the track, Sable’s return offers Indian athletics a timely boost ahead of the continental multi-sport event. Sable told the reporters in Bengaluru:
“I went to the Asian Games in 2022. I have the same level of fitness now. I can repeat my performance in this Asian Games.”
The gold medalist added that continuous training since June has restored his confidence and that he wants to deliver his best for the country and those who supported him through recovery. Sable’s first competitive steeplechase in a year is scheduled for the Indian Athletics Series Final in New Delhi on 10 September. The athlete has stated that his preparation “is very good.”
The outing will serve as a key tune-up before the Asian Games, which open on 19 September in Japan. His participation in the 3000m steeplechase is confirmed, with the Athletics Federation of India also exploring a possible 5000m entry subject to qualification standards.
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