Alexander Stadium: Avinash Sable win silver in 3000m Men’s Steeplechase. The Olympian from Beed became the fourth medalist for India in Track and Field at Birmingham. India started the track and field medal with Tejaswin Shanker with a bronze in Men’s High Jump. Palakkad born Murali Sivashankar added to the tally by winning a silver in Long Jump followed by Priyanka Goswami in 10k walk.
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Avinash Sable broke records and the Kenyan home fortress to clinch the silver in steeplechase. Sable, with his momentous victory became the first non-Kenyan to finish on the podium of steeplechase in the last six editions of Commonwealth Games. In addition, Sable is also the first ever Indian to win a medal in steeplechase at the Commonwealth Games. The 27-year-old clocked 8:11:20 missed out on gold by smallest of times, 0.05 seconds. Kenya’s Abraham Kibiwot won the gold while his countryman Amos Serem took the bronze. Abraham Kibiwot was the Commonwealth Games Silver Medalist in 2018 Gold Coast.
The last non-kenyan to place on the podium was Canadian Graeme Vincent Fell in Victoria in 1994. Fell finished behind Kenya’s Johnstone Kipkoech and Gideon Chirchir to claim the third spot. Graeme is also the last non-Kenyan to win the 3000m steeplechase in Commonwealth Games. He clinched the feat in 1986 at Edinburgh. Interestingly, The Games saw no Kenyan joining the podium.
The victories of Avinash Sable and Priyanka Goswami took the total medal tally to 28. India is currently on fifth spot with 9 Gold, 10 Silver, and 9 Bronze. The subcontinental country is expected to win more medals in the upcoming events. India are assured of at least five medals in boxing. Additionally, India assures either a silver or gold in lawn Balls, the dark horse event. Other Probable medal events include Table Tennis, Squash and Badminton.
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