Xiamen Diamond League: India's Avinash Sable qualifies for 3000m steeplechase final in Eugene

03.09.2023 - 09:45 sports.ndtv.com

India's Avinash Sable qualified for his maiden Diamond League Final after completing fifth in the men's 3000m steeplechase race at the Xiamen Diamond League 2023 in China on Saturday.

In overcast conditions at the Egret Stadium, Sable clocked 8:16.27. His time of 8:11.20 at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham last year remains the Indian national record.

Sable's performance was over six seconds faster than his qualifying mark for the world championships in Budapest last month, where he failed to make the final.

Morocco's Soufiane El Bakkali won the Xiamen meet with a meet record of 8:10.31. Ethiopia's Samuel Firewu finished second in 8:11.29, while Kenya's Amos Serem finished third in 8:14.41.

athletics record performer Neeraj Chopra Murali Sreeshankar China Ethiopia India Morocco Kenya

Asian Games 2023 - the quadrennial extravaganza is here. The 19th edition of the the Asian Games started from Tuesday, September 19 but the official opening ceremony will be held on Saturday. From September 23 to October 8, the Asian Games 2023 will showcase the very best athletes of the continent and they will go for glory. In the span of 20 days, 655 Indian athletes will compete across 41 disciplines out of a total 61. The Asian Games has always been a mega event where Indians have excelled. At the 2018 Asian Games, India won a record 70 medals.

India's Full Schedule At Asian Games 2023: Schedule And List Of All Indians In Action And Important Dates

Neeraj Chopra Finishes Second In Diamond League Final

Olympic and world champion javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra failed to defend his Diamond League champion's title as he finished second with a modest performance of 83.80m in Eugene on Saturday. The 25-year-old Chopra struggled in the windy conditions in the grand finale at the Hayward Field as he fouled his two attempts. His best throw of the day came in the second attempt. His series read foul, 83.80m, 81.37m, foul, 80.74 and 80.90m. This was his first below 85m throw of the season. He had qualified for the DL Finals at the third spot. He had won the 2022 DL Finals in Zurich with a throw of 88.44m.

Watch: Neeraj Chopra's 83.80m Throw In Eugene Diamond League Final

India's 'Golden Boy' and Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra came second best to Czech Jakub Vadlejch in the Wanda Diamond League final in men's javelin in Eugene on Saturday. USA's Curtis Thompson started the event with a throw of 74.16 metres to get the javelin final underway. The Indian ace started with a cross to his name, as his first throw was disqualified. However, he made a sensational recovery to climb to second place on the points table with a throw of 83.80m in his second attempt.

Neeraj Chopra Finishes Second In Diamond League Final

Murali Sreeshankar Pulls Out Of Diamond League Final In USA To Focus On Asian Games

Star Indian long jumper Murali Sreeshankar has pulled out of the prestigious Diamond League Final in USA later this month to focus on the Hangzhou Asian Games beginning on September 23. Sreeshankar made the decision after taking into account that he would need a lot of travel if he has to take part in the September 17 DL Final in Eugene, which may have an impact on his body and disrupt training. "Sreeshankar is not taking part in the DL Final in Eugene to focus on the Asian Games. Taking part in the DL Final will involve a lot of travel, jet lag etc," Sreeshankar's father S Murali told PTI.