Avinash Sable, the national record holder in the 3000m steeplechase, showcased his dominance at the 63rd Inter-State Athletics Championships, securing a comfortable victory on Day 3. Despite not pushing himself to his full potential, Sable finished well ahead of the pack, clocking a time of 8:31.75s, surpassing his own previous meet record of 8:33.19s set in Lucknow five years ago. This win marked his return to the Inter-State meet after a five-year absence.
Sable, who has already achieved the qualifying standard for the Paris Olympics, expressed contentment with his performance, revealing he had only competed at 75-80 per cent of his capacity. He explained his strategic approach to peak at the right time for the Olympics, highlighting his decision to prioritize training over competitive intensity in the lead-up to the event. He emphasized his focus on refining his final kick, drawing lessons from past mistakes.
The competition witnessed other notable performances. Sarvesh Kushare continued his impressive season, equaling the six-year-old meet record in high jump with a season’s best leap of 2.25m, solidifying his position on the Road to Paris rankings. In the shot put, Tajinderpal Singh Toor, a Paris Olympics qualifier, secured victory with a final attempt of 19.93m. Despite acknowledging his ongoing recovery and less-than-optimal fitness, Toor expressed confidence in his readiness for the Paris Olympics.
