Gold rush: Sable, Yarraji, women's relay team win gold at Asian meet

Steeplechaser Avinash Sable and hurdler Jyothi Yarraji produced stellar performances to win gold medals at the Asian Athletics Championships in Gumi, South Korea, on Thursday.

- Avishek Roy

NEW DELHI: Steeplechaser Avinash Sable and hurdler Jyothi Yarraji produced stellar performances to win gold medals at the Asian Athletics Championships in Gumi, South Korea, on Thursday.

Later, the women's 4x400m relay team dashed to a third gold as India wrapped up a fantastic day.

With the men's relay team (4x400m) bagging silver and Ancy Sojan and Shaili Singh winning silver and bronze medals respectively in long jump, India took their medals count to 14, second behind China (21).

The evening session was delayed due to a thunderstorm but once it started, Indian athletes came up with one strong showing after the other. The first to go was Sable. The two-time Olympian and Asian Games gold medallist dominated the field, clocking 8:20.92s and finished much ahead of Japanese Yutaro Niinae (8:24.41s) and Qatar's Zakaria Elahlaami (8:27.12).

Having started with the Diamond League last April, this was Sable's season's best.

While the medal would come as a boost ahead of the world championships in Tokyo in September, he would be equally satisfied with his tactical execution.