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On Monday, August 5, India’s Avinash Sable etched his name in history books as he became the first Indian man to qualify for the final of 3000m steeplechase event at the Olympic Games. The Indian athlete secured a spot for himself after finishing fifth in his heat, with a timing of 8:15.43.
Sable, who missed to get through the final on his debut at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, entered the 2024 Paris Olympics after clocking his new personal best of 8:09.91, which also happened to be the national record, as he finished sixth at the Paris Diamond League last month. While he stood fifth in his heat, Mohamed Tindouft from Morocco secured the top spot with a timing of 8:10.62, followed by Ethiopia’s Samuel Firewu (8:11.61), Abraham Kibiwot of Kenya (8:12.02) and Japan’s Ryuji Miura (8:12.41) at second, third and fourth place respectively.
The 29-year-old, who hails from Beed in Maharashtra will next take the track at the Stade de France on Thursday, August 8, hoping for a medal in the 15-man final at the Paris Olympics 2024. It is to be noted that Lalita Babar became the first Indian Olympic track finalist after she qualified for the women’s 3000m steeplechase final in 2016.
How does qualification round works in steeplechase at Olympics?
It is to be noted Sable was one of the steeplechasers among the 36 competing at the Summer Games in Paris. Speaking of the event in detail, the 36 athletes competing in this event are divided into three heats of 12 each for round one, which is the qualification round. Top five from each heat then progress into the final, which is scheduled to take place on Thursday, August 8.
