Jyothi Yarraji Wins 100m Hurdles, Sable Takes Steeplechase Gold at Asian Athletics Championships
(by our correspondent)
Gumi, South Korea: Indian athletics celebrated a golden day at the 26th Asian Athletics Championships on Thursday as Avinash Sable and Jyothi Yarraji delivered stunning, record-breaking performances to clinch top podium finishes in their respective events.
Sable Makes History in Steeplechase
Avinash Sable etched his name in the history books by becoming the first Indian man in 36 years to win gold in the men’s 3000m steeplechase, clocking a season-best 8:20.92.
Sable, already an Asian Games gold medallist, ran a tactically brilliant race. Japan’s Yutaro Niinae took the lead with one lap to go, but Sable responded with a powerful surge to reclaim and hold the lead to the finish. Niinae took silver with 8:24.41, and Qatar’s Zakaria Elahlaami secured bronze in 8:27.12.
This is Sable’s second medal at the Asian Championships, following a silver in 2019. He becomes only the third Indian man to win steeplechase gold at the event, after Harbel Singh (1975) and Dina Ram (1989).
Sable’s national record stands at 8:09.91, set earlier in 2024.
Yarraji Defends Her Crown in Style
Shortly after Sable’s triumph, India’s top hurdler Jyothi Yarraji delivered a championship-defining moment in the women’s 100m hurdles, defending her 2023 title with a blistering 12.96 seconds.
Her time not only secured gold but also set a new championship record, breaking the long-standing mark of 13.04 seconds set by Olga Shishigina (Kazakhstan, 1998) and Sun Yawei (China, 2011).
Yarraji joins an elite club of athletes who have defended their 100m hurdles title, including legends like Emi Akimoto (Japan) and Sun Yawei (China). Although her run didn’t match her national record of 12.78, it reaffirmed her dominance in Asia.
Relay Team and Distance Runners Impress
India’s men’s 4x400m relay team of Rince Joseph, Dharmveer Choudhary, Manu Thekkinalil Saji, and Mohit Kumar qualified for the final in commanding style. Their best-ever time of 3:06.28 beat out China (3:06.79) and host South Korea (3:10.05), earning them lane five in the final. Sri Lanka remains the team to beat, with the season’s best time of 3:01.56.
In the women’s 10,000m, India’s Sanjeevani Jadhav placed fifth with a season-best 33:08.17, while Seema followed closely in sixth at 33:08.23. Kazakhstan’s Daisy Jepkemei dominated the race in 30:48.44, with Japan’s Ririrak Hironika and Mikuni Yada claiming silver and bronze.
India’s Growing Dominance
With two major golds and strong performances across events, India continues to rise in stature on the continental athletics stage. The Yarraji-Sable double is more than a medal haul it’s a statement of intent.