India's Avinash Sable scripted history in Hangzhou on Sunday, October 1 by winning the first-ever Gold medal in men's 3000m steeplechase in the Asian Games. Sable literally strolled his way to a Gold medal in the last lap as his competitors were nowhere near him as he clocked 8:19.50 to hand India their 12th Gold in the ongoing Games.
Sable had an unusually fast start, which was different from his conservative approach at the World Championships in Budapest. Sable had made a distance from anyone else pretty early into the event, which helped him in the end as in the last 200 metres, only he was there in the frame as the race finally came to an end. Sable, who won a silver medal in the Commonwealth Games last year, holds the national record of 8:11:20, while his season best is 8:11.63. Japan's Ryoma Aoki finished in second place behind Sable with a timing of 8:23.75 while another Japanese athlete Seiya Sunada finished at 8:26.47.
Sable will also compete in the 5000m for India and will hope to win another medal before leaving China.
It was a memorable night for Track and Field athletes on Sunday, October 1 with nine medals coming in various events including a Gold in men's shotput with Tajinderpal Singh Toor defending his title; a silver in women's 1500m final with Harmilan Bains. A double podium finish was ensured in the men's 1500m final with Ajay Kumar Saroj and Jinson Johnson winning Silver and Bronze respectively.
Before the day ended, Jyoti Yarraji won a silver in women's 100m hurdle while Seema Punia and A Nandini added a Bronze medal each in women's shotput and women's 800m heptathlon events. India's medal tally now stands at 50 with 13 Gold, 20 Silver and 19 Bronze.
