India`s star 3000m steeplechaser Avinash Sable will be aiming to better his personal record in the upcoming meets. He was earlier recovering from his calf injury.
The Asian Games champion has been undergoing high-intensity training in Ooty and also improving his form at the Sports Authority of India`s Southern Centre.
Speaking about his preparation for the Diamond League, “Last year was not good, it didn`t even look like I`ll be able to perform well. But this year I am competing in the Diamond League, so preparation (for the World Championship) is good,” Sable told a selected group of reporters.
“My target is to notch my personal best, closer to eight minutes. 15 days are left of training, I think I will be able to go near eight,” he added.
Since the Hangzhou Asian Games in 2023, he has been struggling with a calf injury. He opened his 2025 season with a time of 8:22.59sec at the Xiamen Diamond League, followed by an 8:23.85sec effort in Shaoxing.
However, he bounced back by clinching gold at the Asian Championships in Gumi, South Korea, in May after clocking an improved 8:20.92sec. “Preparations are going well. I was injured in the opening of the season. But despite that, I participated in two Diamond League events in China,” said the 30-year-old.
He then spoke about his injury layoff and struggles sustaining the injury.
“The results weren`t good because of the injury. Then I competed in the Asian Championship to boost my confidence. I started training in November, the off season also went well. I faced a lot of trouble due to injuries last season.
“I had a calf injury, there was a lot of pain in my right calf and hamstring. It started after the Asian Games and continued the entire year. The pain was there till January-February this year”.
The Mandwa-born had earlier failed to reach the final of the last World Championship, but stated that he had prepared well to finish the race.
“At the World Championships, I want to improve my position from last time. This year I have worked on finishing the race, mileage etc.,” he said.
It`s been nearly a year since Sable clocked the national record of 8:09.91sec, and the Armyman remains focused on breaching the coveted eight-minute barrier.
“Yes I want to do it. It won`t happen soon but I think I`ll be able to improve my personal best,” Sable conceded.
In the build-up to the World Championships in September, the two-time Olympian plans to compete in a few more meets, including two Diamond League events.
“I will compete in the steeplechase event in the Morocco Diamond League next month, and then I will play another Diamond League and a competition in India. Focus will be to do well at Worlds,” concluded Avinash Sable.
(With PTI Inputs)
