Maharashtra's own Avinash Sable began his rise to prominence at the 2018 National Open Championship in Bhubaneshwar, where he managed to beat the national record holder, Gopal Saini, by just over a second. His momentum grew throughout 2019 as he clinched wins at the AAC and WAC. With the backing of the Athletics Federation of India, he broke his personal records twice, marking a critical step toward his goal of competing in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
Under the guidance of coach Amrish Kumar, Sable underwent specialized heat training two days a week, a strategy that proved essential for his performance in the oppressive Doha weather. Despite several setbacks caused by injuries, the steeplechase specialist continued to earn accolades. His hard work paid off at the IAAF event in Doha, where he cleared the Olympic qualification round with ease, finishing 63 seconds faster than the allotted time limit. This feat also allowed him to surpass his previous half-marathon steeplechase records. When discussing his aspirations, Sable noted that while every athlete dreams of an Olympic medal, he was equally determined to establish himself as one of the top five or six runners in his category.
The Indian steeple marathoner and Olympic hopeful was notably absent from the Tata Mumbai Marathon held on January 19, 2020. While fans expected him to compete alongside other elite 21km runners like Rashpal Singh, Srinu Bugatha, and Shankar Man Thapa, Sable had other priorities. In order to maximize his Olympic preparation, he traveled to Morocco for intensive training, leading to his withdrawal from Sunday's race.
To remain competitive as an Olympic half-marathon steeplechase runner, Sable needed to shave eight minutes and 10 seconds off his time. Recognized by the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS), Sable expressed a desire to train internationally. This move meant his coach, Amrish Kumar, might have to step back from overseeing his training in the USA. Due to previous language barriers that hindered his progress during earlier training stints, the Athletics Federation of India eventually approved his plan to train abroad. Although there were some discrepancies between the coach's initial plans and the official AFI announcements, Kumar remains fully supportive of Sable's focus and training goals.