India, Sept. 11 -- Avinash Sable made a commendable return to his pet discipline after a career-threatening ACL injury a year ago. Sable clocked 8min 32.39sec to win the 3000m steeplechase event at the India Athletics Final Series at the JLN Stadium here, proving his form and fitness to defend his Asian Games title.

There was nobody to push Sable as he took charge of the race after the second lap and was on his own in the last few laps. It has been a tough one year for Sable, who suffered a freak injury at the Monaco Diamond League in July, 2025. Sable stumbled on the water jump trying to save another runner and got injured. He had to undergo ACL surgery and there were doubts whether he could return to steeplechase again, the gruelling d...