Olympic-bound Sable breaks national half marathon record, first Indian to run it in less than 61 minutes

Tokyo Olympics-bound Avinash Sable smashed the nationwide file whereas successful the Airtel Delhi Half Marathon gold amongst Indian elite runners, clocking 1:00:30sec to complete forward of his compatriots by an extended distance right here on Sunday.

The 26-year-old Sable, who certified for the Tokyo Olympics 3000m steeplechase occasion throughout the World Athletics Championships final 12 months, turned the primary Indian to run a half marathon beneath sixty one minutes.

Such was Sable’s commanding efficiency that he completed the race method forward of his Indian rivals Srinu Bugatha and Durga Bahadur Budha who completed second and third with timings of 1:04:16 and 1:04:19 respectively.

Sable, from Maharashtra, was 10th total, with Ethiopia’s Amedework Walelegn successful the boys’s elite race in 58:53.

According to the Athletics Federation of India’s official data, the sooner nationwide half marathon file stands at 1:03:46 within the identify of Kalidas Hirave of Maharashtra.

“I’m very happy to see that Airtel Delhi Half Marathon was organized with proper health safety measures. Besides top international Marathon runners, India’s Avinash Sable set a new national record! Congratulations to all the winners and participants,” Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju, who flagged off the race, tweeted.

Sable additionally bettered the ADHM course file (amongst Indians) of 1:04:33 which was within the identify of Bugatha, who received gold final 12 months. Sable had completed second in 2018, behind Abhishek Pal, with a time of 1:04:14.

A farmer’s son from Mandwa village in Maharashtra, Sable had clocked Eight minute 21.37 seconds to breach the Olympics qualifying normal of 8:22.00 seconds whereas ending 13th within the World Athletics Championships males’s 3000m steeplechase closing in Doha final 12 months.

He broke his personal nationwide file twice throughout the World Championships and 4 instances in 2019, making an enchancment of practically eight-and-a-half seconds throughout this time.Sable,who’s at the moment a havaldar in Indian Army, additionally received a silver in 3000m steeplechase within the Asian Athletics Championships final 12 months.