Switzerland: India’s Avinash Sable showcased his athletic prowess at the Stockholm Diamond League 2023 event in Switzerland, finishing fifth in the highly competitive men’s 3000 metre steeplechase. The race took place amidst rainfall at the Olympic Stadium in Stockholm, adding to the challenge faced by the athletes.
The reigning Olympic, world, and Diamond League champion, Soufiane El Bakkali of Morocco, emerged as the victor with a time of 8:09.84. Although his performance fell short of his season’s best, El Bakkali’s dominance was evident as he crossed the finish line ahead of the pack. Ethiopia’s Getnet Wale, the 2019 Diamond League champion, secured the second position with timing of 8:12.27, replicating the 1-2 result seen at the Rabat leg of the Diamond League.
Completing the top three was another Ethiopian athlete, Abrham Sime, who clocked 8:16.82. New Zealand’s George Beamish, with a personal best of 8:17.63, narrowly edged out Avinash Sable to claim fourth place. This marked the second time Sable secured a top-five finish in the Diamond League, with his previous accomplishment occurring at last year’s Rabat leg, where he set a national record time of 8:12.48.
The Stockholm Diamond League meet served as Avinash Sable’s second 3000-metre steeplechase race of the year. In the previous leg of the 2023 Diamond League in Rabat, he finished in 10th place with a time of 8:17.18. Sable currently holds India’s national record in the men’s 3000-metre steeplechase, set at 8:11.20.
For his commendable fifth-place finish in Stockholm, Avinash Sable earned four qualification points. In the Diamond League series, athletes accumulate points for each leg they compete in rather than receiving traditional medals. The top eight athletes in each event, based on points accumulated throughout the series, will qualify for the prestigious Diamond League Final, where they will vie for the coveted trophy.
The Stockholm event marked the seventh leg of the Diamond League 2023 season. The series will conclude with a thrilling two-day final held in Eugene, USA, on September 16 and 17. As the competition intensifies, athletes from around the world will strive to showcase their skills and secure a place in the highly anticipated finale.
Comments