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Indian Olympian Avinash Sable's tour in America has been extended until the World Athletics Championships in July, athletic expert Scott Simmons confirmed over the phone from Eugene on Saturday.
The Athletics Federation of India (AFI) appointed Simmons to oversee Sable's long and middle-distance training camp this year.
The Indian national record holder in men’s 3000m steeplechase and 5000m has been practicing with elite foreign athletes, including Olympic silver medalist Paul Chelimo at the high altitude of Colorado Springs in America since April. Simmons said:
“To prepare for the Eugene for the World Athletics Championships, the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) has extended Sable's stay in Colorado Springs."
According to Simmons, Sable will not compete at the Eugene Diamond League on Saturday as his entry couldn’t be confirmed, but the Indian runner will compete at the Rabat Diamond League next week.
The Eugene Diamond League is being organised at the newly constructed Hayward Stadium, which will be the venue for the Eugene World Athletics Championships from July 15-24. The men’s 5000m race in Eugene on Saturday would have given Sable an opportunity to get a feel of the facilities before the World Athletics Championships.
The Eugene Diamond League was supposed to be Sable’s third competition on American soil. His first event was a 5000m track race in San Juan Capistrano last month followed by a 3000m steeplechase at the USATF Distance Classic Meeting in California.
Sable was reluctant to practice in Colorado Springs due to a language barrier in 2019. This time, however, Scott Simmons has accompanied Sable and will act as an interpreter.
The AFI selected over a dozen elite Indian middle and distance athletes for international exposure to Colorado Springs. However, only Sable could make the trip as the other athletes didn’t have the necessary documents. Simmons is expecting more Indian athletes to join the camp in Colorado Springs in June.
Parul Chaudhary, one of the leading distance runners, and Lili Das, an 800m and 1500m specialist, are among several athletes shortlisted for Colorado Springs. The Indian national coach Scott Simmons revealed:
"The athletes would go to Colorado Springs after the June 10 to 14 National Inter-State Athletics Championships."
