Avinash Sable is a 29 year old Indian track and field athlete from a small town in Maharashtra, who recently came 6th in the 300 metre steeplechase final at the Paris Diamond League. Sable is also a member of the SC community and an aspiring Olympian.
Story: Avani Kulshreshtha
Edit: Nitya Kaimal
Avinash Sable, who represented India in the Paris Diamond League and secured the nation a place in the top 10, hails from a small district in Maharashtra called Beed. He was born on September 13, 1994, and grew up with numerous challenges and difficulties. Belonging to the SC community, he survived all the hardships life threw at him.
Growing up with a lack of resources, Sable used to run every day for six kilometres to reach school. It must be shocking to hear that his life, in the beginning, was completely devoid of sporting ambitions. He was bent on joining the Indian army and was recruited to the 5 Mahar regiment after completing Grade 12. Due to his positions, he faced, and survived, extreme climates, including the bone-chilling deserts of Siachen as well as the extremely hot climate of Rajasthan.
It was during his time in the army that Sable discovered his interest in sports, especially cross-country running. He began to participate in cross-country races in 2015 and brought back laurels. His natural talent became apparent. By 2017, he had finished fifth in the National Cross-Country Championships, marking the beginning of his athletic career.
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Sable’s switch to the steeplechase was a pivotal moment. Under the guidance of coach Amrish Kumar, he broke the 37-year-old national record in steeplechase at the 2018 Open Nationals in Bhubaneswar, clocking 8:29.88. This achievement was only the beginning of his successful career in steeplechase. Since then, he has beaten his own national record more than once and won the silver medal in the 2022 Commonwealth Games. Sable has gone through a rigorous training regimen and has followed a strict diet to achieve his goals and bring pride to the country. His performance at the Diamond League and other international events stands as a testament to his dedication and hard work.
His achievements have also been recognised by prominent political leaders. In October 2023, The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi congratulated Avinash Sable for winning a silver medal in the Men’s 5000m race event at the Asian Games in Hangzhou. This year, after giving an exceptional performance in the Paris Diamond League, he was applauded by Prakash Ambedkar. Ambedkar remarked, “Avinash Sable belongs to the SC community and hails from Beed, which is one of the most backward and poor regions of the country. I congratulate him and his parents, who had gone through a lot of hardships before Avinash joined the Army and was part of the 5 Mahar regiment. I wish him all the very best for the Olympics in Paris this year.”
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Avinash Sable’s journey truly is inspiring, and a story of resilience, dedication, and hard work. Starting from a humble background and going on to achieve international success, Sable has inspired countless people to work towards excellence.
*दलित टाइम्स उन करोड़ो लोगो की आवाज़ है जिन्हें हाशिए पर रखा गया है। *
महिला, दलित और आदिवासियों के मुद्दों पर केंद्रित पत्रकारिता करने और मुख्यधारा की मीडिया में इनका प्रतिनिधित्व करने के लिए हमें आर्थिक सहयोग करें।
