Avinash Sable Joins Neeraj Chopra in Diamond League Final in Brussels
India’s athletics scene is once again in the spotlight as 3000m steeplechase sprinter Avinash Sable secures a place in the prestigious Diamond League final, which will be held in Brussels. Sable, who is making his debut in the final, joins javelin superstar Neeraj Chopra, creating a moment of pride for Indian sports enthusiasts as the two athletes prepare to compete at one of the highest levels of international athletics.
Avinash Sable’s inclusion in the final is nothing short of remarkable. Listed among the 12 athletes competing in the 3000m steeplechase event, Sable earned his spot despite finishing 14th in the Diamond League standings. He accumulated three points across two meetings, but his path to the final was paved by the absence of four higher-ranked athletes. Ethiopian athlete Lamecha Girma, New Zealand’s Geordie Beamish, Japan’s Ryuji Mura, and Hillary Bor from the United States, all ranked ahead of Sable, will not be participating, allowing the Indian runner to take his place in the final.
Sable’s performance in the Diamond League season has been commendable, with his standout moment coming in the Paris leg of the league in July. There, the 29-year-old sprinter shattered his own national record by clocking a time of 8:09.91, securing a sixth-place finish. This impressive time highlighted his continuous improvement and determination to excel on the world stage. However, his subsequent performance in the Silesia leg on August 25 was less stellar, as he finished 14th with a time of 8:29.96.
Despite these ups and downs, Sable’s progress this year is a continuation of his historic achievement at the Paris Olympics, where he became the first Indian athlete to qualify for the 3000m steeplechase final. Although his final race at the Olympics did not yield the result he had hoped for—he finished 11th with a time of 8:14.18—it marked a significant milestone for Indian athletics and placed him among the elite in global competition.
The Diamond League final, scheduled for September 13 and 14, will see Sable compete in the 3000m steeplechase event on the opening day. This two-day event is one of the most prestigious in athletics, featuring top athletes from around the world. It is an opportunity for Sable to further cement his position as a leading figure in Indian athletics.
Joining Sable in Brussels is India’s golden boy of javelin, Neeraj Chopra, who also secured a spot in the final after finishing fourth in the overall standings of the javelin event. Chopra, who collected 14 points from his two second-place finishes in the Doha and Lausanne legs of the Diamond League, is no stranger to success. In 2022, Chopra made history by winning the Diamond League title, defeating a star-studded field. This year, he returns to the final with hopes of reclaiming his crown.
Chopra’s 2024 season has been nothing short of spectacular. At the Paris Olympics, he took home the silver medal with a throw of 89.45m. However, he was bested by Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem, who clinched the gold medal with a mammoth throw of 92.97m. Despite missing out on the top spot, Chopra’s consistent performances throughout the year have kept him at the forefront of the global javelin scene, and he remains one of India’s most celebrated athletes.
The Diamond League final in Brussels promises to be an exciting and high-stakes event for Indian sports fans, as both Sable and Chopra will be competing against some of the best athletes in the world. While Sable’s maiden appearance in the final marks a significant achievement in his career, Chopra will be looking to add yet another title to his already impressive resume. The steeplechase event will take place on September 13, followed by the javelin competition on September 14, offering Indian fans two days of thrilling action.