His parents Mukund and Vaishali call him “Dev Manus” (A man who possesses qualities of God) and admit that their son is a strict believer of the ideology of “simple living high thinking’ and believe that Avinash Sable retains his simplicity and love for the drought-prone village in the Beed, Maharashtra.” He is not only our son he is the Country’s son,” his proud parents quips brimming with confidence.
Avinash Sable born was on September 13th, 1994 in Mandwa, Beed district, Maharashtra, into a family of farmers. He would run or walk a distance of 15km distance between home and school as there was no transport facility in his village since he was six years old.
“I used to enjoy going to school walking or running, most of my colleagues use to commute by bicycle, my family couldn’t afford it neither I forced them to buy one for me, I took the hardships of life positively and today those hardships have turned me into ‘Silver Sable,” Avinash, first Indian ever to win a medal in steeplechase event at the Commonwealth Games told The Daily Guardian during the launch event of Delhi Half Marathon.
Naib Subedar Avinash Sable holds the national record of 8:11.20, set at the 2022 Commonwealth Games where he won the silver medal.
“I always believe in taking the road less travelled and so my goal right now is to represent my country in such international tournaments where India still has not managed to achieve a decent medal tally in this sport. My main focus is on Paris Olympics 2024 steeplechase and next year Asian Games, World Championship, I am very sure of my target and wish to break records again,” he said.
People call him the ‘Monk’ of Indian Athletics, he has an ease to express and calmness on face despite of such limelight and popularity achieved, “I don’t know why people call me ‘Monk’, I thank them whole heartedly for such a coveted title but my focus is to practice more and more, apply perseverance and die hard efforts to train myself efficiently so that I give my best at the competitions,” he further explained.
“I was in cross country previously, I ran there but the result wasn’t good, I stood 4th in Nationals. After that when he joined the training camp, I was doing hurdles running and it was then when Amrish Kumar who had been keeping tabs on my performance approached me and said that I could perform well in steeplechase and need to work on the loopholes. He took the decision of training me and in the initial building of my career he played a major role. He motivated me, he made me aware of my strengths and I too gained confidence and realised my capabilities. He pushed me time and again morally and physically. He trained me for Tokyo Olympics also, I give him all the credits for the same,” Avinash said explaining his initial years.
