“I am aiming for the medal” - Avinash Sable feels he has enough potential to finish on the podium at Paris Olympics 2024

India's premier steeplechase runner Avinash Sable is confident of performing on the world stage in the Paris Olympics 2024. The 29-year-old feels he has enough potential to bag a medal, thanks to the confidence he has acquired over the past two years with his training.

During an interaction on Jio Cinema’s ‘The Dreamers’ episode, Avinash got candid revealing his role models, his preparations for the forthcoming Paris 2024 Games, his aim of bagging a medal on the world stage, and many more.

Avinash secured the silver medal at the 2022 Commonwealth Games with a new national record time of 8:11.20 seconds. Remarkably, it was the first time an athlete from outside Kenya had won a medal in the men's 3000m steeplechase at the Commonwealth Games since 1994.

“My target at the CWG was to compete against Kenyan athletes and I finished second by a few microseconds. After that result, I was confident that I could perform well not just against Kenyan athletes, but at the world level as well,” Avinash Sable told Jio Cinema.

Avinash has emphasized his aim of ending on the podium in the Summer Games and dedicating the medal to the country. Remarkably, he has set a new national record on nine occasions.

“I am working hard for the medal, I am aiming for the medal. If things work out on the day and I end up winning a medal, I will dedicate it to my country,” he added.

“I used to think that Olympic medallists do things differently” - Avinash Sable

Notably, Avinash Sable met the qualifying standard (8:15.00 seconds) for the Paris Olympics 2024 in the men’s 3000m steeplechase at a Diamond League series in Silesia, Poland in 2023, clocking 8:11.63 seconds to finish at the sixth spot in the standings.

Avinash bagged the gold medal at the Asian Games in Hangzhou in 2023 in the 3000m steeplechase and also secured a silver medal in the 5000m. Importantly, he holds a national record in both events.

Avinash, who previously thought Olympic medallists trained differently, added in the same interaction.

“I used to think that Olympic medallists do things differently and what they do is very difficult. My training over the last two years has boosted my confidence. I believe that I don't just want to participate in the Olympics, but have the potential to win a medal.”