At the Asian Championships, Avinash Sable became the first Indian male to win a gold medal in steeplechase in 36 years.
At the 26th Asian Athletics Championships in Gumi, South Korea, on Thursday, national record-holding steeplechase runner Avinash Sable and India’s fastest woman hurdler Jyothi Yarraji both put up incredible performances to win gold in their respective categories. Sable became the first Indian male to win a gold medal in steeplechase at the Asian Championships in 36 years as he advanced to the finals with a season-best effort. Shortly after, Jyothi set a new championship record of 12.96 seconds with a late burst to win her second consecutive gold medal in this competition. The previous record, set by Sun Yawei of China in 2011 and Olga Shishigina of Kazakhstan in 1998, was 13.04 seconds.
After taking silver in the 2019 competition, Sable won his second Asian medal with a time of 8:20.92 seconds. However, it fell far short of his 2024 national record of 8:09.91 seconds.
Dina Ram’s victory in 1989 was the last time India took home a gold medal in this competition.
In 1975, Harbel Singh became the first Indian to win a gold medal in the men’s steeplechase at the showcase.
Jyothi’s performance of 13.09 earned him the gold medal in the 2023 competition. However, her personal best time of 12.78 seconds, which also happens to be the national record, is far superior.
Even though Jyothi placed second in the Asian Games, she was one of only five athletes to win gold in the Asian Championships 100-meter hurdles. The other four were Sun Yawei of China (2009, 2011), Zhang Yu of China (1991, 1993), Su Yinping of China (2003, 2005), and Emi Akimoto of Japan (1979, 1981, 1983).
Sable easily lived up to the favorite title, solidifying the nation’s place in the 26th edition of the continental championship just before Jyothi’s victory.
At the beginning of the last lap, Yutaro Niinae of Japan, who finished in second place with 8:24.41 seconds, was ahead, but the Indian ace made a tremendous effort to pass him and take first place.
With four laps remaining, the gold medallist from the Hangzhou Asian Games was still leading the field, but two Japanese competitors were pursuing him.
With three circuits left, Niinae passed Sable, but the Indian had the final laugh. Zakaria Elahlaami of Qatar won bronze with a time of 8:27.12 seconds.
India’s 4×400-meter men’s relay team, which included Rince Joseph, Dharmveer Choudhary, Manu Thekkinalil Saji, and Mohit Kumar, dominated the heat earlier in the day and advanced to the final with their best-ever performance on Thursday.
The quartet’s final time of 3:06.28 seconds will place them in lane five.
India achieved straight qualification in the heats by surpassing both hosts Korea (3:10.05) and China (3:06.79).
China, Kazakhstan, and Sri Lanka are among the top contenders in the final roster; Sri Lanka has the fastest time of the season (3:01.56).
Sanjeevani Jadhav of India finished fifth in the women’s 10,000m final with a season-best time of 33:08.17 seconds, closely followed by Seema in sixth place with 33:08.23 seconds.
Daisy Jepkemei of Kazakhstan won the race with a time of 30:48.44, ahead of Mikuni Yada of Japan (30:12.21) and Ririrak Hironika of Japan (30:56.32).
