New Delhi, 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. He had to undergo ACL surgery and there were doubts whether he could return to steeplechase again, in which he won Commonwealth Games silver in 2022 and gold at the previous Asian Games. "It was the toughest phase of my career. It took a lot of strength and support from my coach and people around me to make a comeback," Sable said. Sable, who returned to the track in August, running a 5000m race at a meet in Belgium, said he was feeling good after Thursday's race. "I could have pushed more. But it was just to gain confidence. My fitness is good. I think it's even better than the last Asian Games. I have done good speed work. This was my first steeplechase in 14 months, and I am ready for the Asian Games." In women's hammer throw, Tanya Chaudhary shattered the national record with a throw of 68.35m that broke Sarita Singh's mark of 65.25m set in 2017. Ancy Sojan warmed up for the Asian Games with a 6.76m leap to take the top spot in women's long jump. In men's javelin, Rohit Yadav won with a throw of 81.10m, while Yashvir Singh threw 80.40m. Animesh Kujur won the 100m showpiece with a timing of 10.21sec, behind Gurindervir Singh (10.32sec)....