Picture Credit: X
Avinash Sable, who was the only Indian athlete in the Xiamen Diamond League 2025, ended his campaign in the 13th spot in the men’s 3000 metre steeplechase event, held on April 26. In the season opener, he earned the spot with a timing of 8:22.59, bettering his previous best and national record of 8:09.91. He was seen in action for the first time since the Diamond League Final in September 2024, when he concluded in the ninth position with a time of 8 minutes and 17.09 seconds.
The 30-year-old obtained three spots from being last inside the first 1200m, but with around 1000m to go, he was holding the 13th position and continued to maintain the spot until the end of the competition. Sable will next compete in the next Diamond League meeting, which will take place in Shanghai on May 3. He has already advanced to the World Championships, set to be held in Tokyo in September on the basis of his Paris Olympics timing.
Ethiopia’s Samuel Firewu wins the competition; breaks into record books
Ethiopia’s Samuel Firewu dazed the legendary track and field racer Soufianne El Bakkali with a triumph over the Moroccan star in the race. Following both, Kenya’s Kiprop Koech got the third position by completing the race in a period of 8:07.12. Firewu also registered a meet record to boot with a world leading timing of 8:05.61, testifying to claims about him being the future of men’s Steeplechase.
Firewu’s compatriot Hailemariyam Amare led at the 200m mark, recording a time of 5:26.29. Soufianne El Bakkali fellow countryman Abderrafia Bouassel, who was leading in the first minute of the race, did not complete the race. 16 runners succeeded in finishing the race.
