Xiamen Diamond League 2023 Highlights: Avinash Sable finishes fifth in men's 300m Steeplechase

Hello and welcome to Khel Now's live blog for Xiamen Diamond League 2023! Stay tuned for live updates.

The penultimate leg of Diamond League - Xiamen Diamond League 2023 - is scheduled to take place on 2nd September, 2023 in Xiamen, China. Several top athletes will be back in action post the conclusion of World Athletics Championships 2023. A total of three Indians are set to take part in the event - Avinash Sable, Praveen Chitravel, and Abdulla Aboobacker.

The men's 800m promises to be the highlight of the meet, featuring Marco Arop, Emmanuel Wanyonyi, Ben Pattison, and Diamond League leader Wyclife Kinyamal. Marileidy Paulino, fresh from her victory in the women's 400m world final, joins the action in Xiamen.

The men's 400m presents a strong competition, with Kirani James, Quincy Hall, Rusheen McDonald, and Vernon Norwood in contention. Ivana Vuleta leads the Long jump, while Hugues Fabrice Zango from Burkino Faso looks to extend his Triple jump dominance. Laulauga Tausaga seeks to secure her place in the Eugene Diamond League final after claiming her first Discus throw world title.

Finally, Soufiane El Bakkali aims to maintain his unbeaten streak in the 3000m steeplechase after securing his second World Athletics Championships crown last month.

Indians participating in Xiamen Diamond League 2023

India’s Avinash Sable will compete in the men’s 3000m steeplechase while Praveen Chitravel and Abdulla Aboobacker will be in action in the Triple jump event at the Xiamen Diamond League 2023.

National record holder, Avinash Sable is gearing up for his fourth Diamond League event of the season in Xiamen. During his previous Diamond League appearance in Silesia, the 28-year-old breached the Paris Olympics entry standards by securing a sixth-place finish clocking 8:11.63s.

Currently, Sable holds the 10th position in the Diamond League 2023 men's 3000m steeplechase rankings, with a total of seven points. Notably, the men's 3000m steeplechase is not included in the Brussels leg, making the Xiamen meet Sable's last opportunity to secure a spot in the finals in Eugene.

Meanwhile, Praveen Chitravel is set to make his second appearance at the Diamond League. The 22-year-old, who holds the Indian national record in men's triple jump, secured a sixth-place finish at his debut in Monaco back in July.

His compatriot Abdulla Aboobaker too is gearing up for his second Diamond League competition. Aboobaker made his debut at the Florence Diamond League in June, where he achieved a sixth-place finish with a best jump of 16.37m.