The battle for the gold medal will be between five runners, including Avinash Sable and two Japanese runners.
In the build up to the 20th Asian Games in Japan, India’s national record holder and steeplechase specialist, Avinash Sable, competed in just one 3,000m steeplechase event. That too on the home ground on September 10 in New Delhi. But the champion runner exuded confidence of successfully defending his title at Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games. “I am fit. There shouldn’t be any issue of me not winning gold,” the defending Asian Games champion told Sportsbackstory.com.
The men’s 3000m steeplechase is scheduled for Monday evening. He added: “There is just one Japanese runner (Ryuji Miura) in the field. He is good and experienced.” There are at least five runners in the men’s steeplechase event who could be strong contenders for medal, including Sable. Japan’s Ryama Aoki has a season best of 8:18.63. Vietnam’s Trung Cuong Nguven, having a season best of 8:38.25, would also be aiming for a podium finish.
Avinash Sable has been battling injuries and undergoing intensive rehab to regain his fitness. On his comeback trail, he showed a glimpse of his fitness, clocking 8:32.39 seconds, a season best. Sable’s national record of 8:09.91 seconds was clocked two years ago at Paris Diamond League in France. “I could have run faster. But the race in New Delhi was just a trial to prove fitness and achieve qualification time for Asian Games,” Sable added.
EOM
