A new record-breaker At the Asian Games in Hangzhou on Sunday, Avinash Sable became the first Indian male to win a gold medal in the 3000m steeplechase, and Tajinderpal Singh Toor successfully defended his shot-put championship with an incredible final throw.
By finishing the race in 8:19.50 seconds, the 29-year-old national record holder gave India its first gold medal in athletics at the current Games.
Sable broke the previous Asian Games mark of 8:22.79, which was achieved by Iranian athlete Hossein Keyhani in the Jakarta Games in 2018.
In the women’s 3000m steeplechase at the 2010 Asian Games in Guangzhou, Sudha Singh took home a gold medal.
Tejinder Pal Singh Toor
Tejinder Pal Singh Toor, who won the gold medal at the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta, surpassed his Saudi adversary Mohamed Daouda Tolo’s previous record of 20.18 metres with a powerful throw of 20.36 metres on his sixth and final try.
Toor, however, was unable to top his own Asian Games record of 20.75m from Jakarta in 2018. The 28-year-old’s final throw, though, was much too good for his Saudi opponent to overcome in the last throw.
India’s Harmilan Bains took home silver in the women’s 1500m, while Ajay Kumar Saroj and Jinson Johnson took home silver and bronze in the men’s 1500m.
Heartbreak for defending champion heptathlete Swapna Barman
Amlan Borgohain of India advanced to the men’s 200-meter semifinals by placing third overall with a time of 21.08 seconds.
The first three competitors in each heat advance to the semi-finals as per rule. The top four finishers from each heat who didn’t make the cut will also compete in the semi-finals.
Both the men’s 100m and 200m national records belong to the Assamese sprinter, who is now the fastest person in the nation.
