Avinash Sable Returns to Steeplechase With 8:32.39, Parul Chaudhary Also Wins at Indian Athletics Series Final

Avinash Sable’s long-awaited return to the 3000m steeplechase brought a welcome sight for Indian athletics as the national record holder stepped back onto the track at the Indian Athletics Series Final in New Delhi.

Competing in the event for the first time in almost a year, Sable clocked 8:32.39 to win the men’s 3000m steeplechase title, marking an important step in his comeback ahead of the Asian Games 2026.

For Sable, however, Thursday’s race was about more than winning another domestic title. It represented a return to competition after a difficult period following a career-threatening injury last year. His rehabilitation kept him away from the steeplechase circuit for an extended period, making his appearance at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium one of the most closely watched moments of the Indian Athletics Series Final.

The 3000m steeplechase is an event that places considerable demands on an athlete, combining endurance with rhythm, speed and technical efficiency over barriers and water jumps. After such a long absence, Sable’s priority was always likely to be finding his competitive rhythm again.

A winning time of 8:32.39 provides him with a solid starting point as he turns his attention towards the Asian Games.

Sable takes the first step towards the Asian Games.

Sable has established himself as one of India’s leading distance runners and remains the national record holder in the 3000m steeplechase. His return adds another major name to an Indian athletics contingent preparing for the continental competition. The Indian Athletics Series Final was particularly significant because several athletes selected for the Asian Games used the invitation-only competition as one of their final opportunities to assess their form before heading to the continental stage.

Sable will now carry the confidence of a race win into his Asian Games preparations. More importantly, the competition offered him a chance to experience the demands of racing again after months focused primarily on recovery and training.

There was also an Asian Games-bound winner in the women’s 3000m steeplechase, with Parul Chaudhary claiming the title in 9:22.49. Parul is set for a busy Asian Games programme, having been selected to compete in the 1500m, 3000m steeplechase and 5000m. Her victory in New Delhi therefore offered another positive indication of her readiness ahead of the Games.

The combination of Sable and Parul winning their respective steeplechase events made the discipline one of the highlights of the evening, with both athletes now turning their focus towards the much bigger challenge in Asia.

Afsal leads the men's 800m field

The men’s 800m produced another close finish, with Mohammed Afsal P taking the gold medal in 1:46.40. Afsal edged Prakash Gadade, who finished second in a personal best, while Krishan Kumar took bronze in 1:46.73. The margins underlined the competitiveness of the race. Gadade’s improvement was particularly encouraging as he crossed the line just 0.16 seconds behind the winner, while Kumar also remained within striking distance.

Afsal’s victory adds another domestic title to his preparations as Indian middle-distance athletes continue to build towards the Asian Games.

The women’s 800m produced one of the more notable performances from an athlete who will not be travelling to the Asian Games. Lili Das won the race in 2:03.41, finishing ahead of Pooja, who clocked 2:04.02, and Gowthami Jayaraman, who took third in 2:05.63. While Lili will not be part of India’s Asian Games contingent, her performance provided a reminder of the depth developing in Indian middle-distance running. Winning against a competitive domestic field at a high-profile season-ending event gives her an important result to build on.

The men’s 1500m title went to Rahul Baloda, who crossed the finish line in 3:39.89. Yoonus Shah finished second in 3:40.37, while Sunil Dawar secured third place in 3:43.68. With the Indian Athletics Series Final bringing together many of the country's leading athletes, the middle-distance races offered valuable competition experience and an opportunity for athletes to end the domestic season on a strong note.

But among all the results, Sable’s return carried perhaps the greatest significance.

After almost a year away from the 3000m steeplechase and a difficult recovery from injury, the national record holder is racing again. His 8:32.39 victory does not tell the entire story of his comeback, but it marks an important milestone.

For now, Sable has done the most important thing: he is back on the steeplechase track, back to winning, and heading towards the Asian Games with another race under his belt.