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Panchkula (Haryana): A household name in his home country, 3000m steeplechase runner Avinash Sable is yet to prove himself as one of the top runners globally. He is looking to make up for the mistakes of the past few years and put on a memorable show at the upcoming Paris Olympics with a different approach.

Since he started running in 2015, Sable has a history of breaking national records almost at will, as well as winning a gold medal at the 2023 Asian Games and a silver medal at the 2022 Commonwealth Games.

But the Paris Olympics could be Sable’s last chance for revenge on the world stage, as he turns 30 in September. He will be nearly 34 years old when the next Olympics take place in the United States.

“I have made mistakes in the last two years. I went to the two World Championships (2022 and 2023) in good shape, but I was unable to perform well in either. I want to make up for that and hope that these Olympic Games will be my best,” said Sable.

Sable, who ran like he was in training to win gold in the 3,000-meter steeplechase here at the National Inter-State Championships, has broken national records nine times.

Yet somehow he failed to shine on the world stage, except at the 2022 CWG, where he broke the Kenyans’ medal monopoly with a silver win.

He finished 11th in the final of the 3000m steeplechase at the 2022 World Championships in the USA and was eliminated in the preliminary rounds at the 2023 edition in Hungary. His best result in the prestigious five-part Diamond League meeting series was a fifth place.

“I contracted COVID-19 twice before the Tokyo Olympics. And last year, too, I made mistakes. Every year, I started my steeplechase season very early in April or May. But when I wanted to test myself at the last minute, I was unable to compete.

“That’s why I’m starting my competitive season late this time. This time I’m doing it differently. I won’t peak until this month. If I peak early, people (the competitors) will notice me,” said Sable, who has a personal best of 8:11.20.

Before the National Inter-State, Sable competed in just one 3000m steeplechase – at the Portland Track Festival on June 8 in the USA, where he trains.

“I came here after extensive training, so I decided to run here as a sort of repeat run. For the first kilometer, I just ran with the others. For the last few laps, I picked up the pace a bit, let’s say 75 to 80 percent of my full speed.

“I may not be at my best and peak at the Diamond League in Paris on July 7, but I will get the chance to test myself for the Olympic Games.

“After that, I want to do some altitude training in Europe and then join the team on July 25. So the preparation was very good.” He said he was focused on the final kick and was able to test himself here during the race.

“The middle of the race is not difficult, but the final push is important and necessary.” When asked about the two 5000-meter and one 10,000-meter races he completed earlier this year, he said: “…I was not focused on those competitions. I was just interested in taking part in a competition.”

Speaking about the global 3000m steeplechase scene, he said: “The field in the steeplechase is pretty good, there is Soufiane El Bakkali (from Morocco) and Lamecha Girma (from Ethiopia). But I haven’t seen anything spectacular in the DL steeplechase so far this year.”

“It will be a technical race and I am prepared for it. Let’s see what happens.”