Priyanka Goswami and Avinash Sable won silver medals for India in women’s 10,000m race walk and men’s 3000m steeplechase respectively at the Commonwealth Games 2022 in Birmingham. The contingent’s medal count rose to 28 on Day 9.
Goswami scripted history as she became the first Indian woman to win a medal in race walk. Sable bettered his own national record of 8:12.48 to win the silver. The 27-year-old clocked 8:11.20s to finish behind Kenyan Abraham Kibiwot (8:11.15). Another Kenyan Amos Serem took the bronze with a time of 8:16.83.
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With the two silver, the Indian athletics team’s medal count swelled to four and it has already gone past the number in 2018 Gold Coast where the country had won a gold, silver and bronze each in track and field.
High jumper Tejswin Shankar and long jumper Murali Sreeshankar had won a bronze and silver respectively in Birmingham.
“Congratulations to our national race walking champion Priyanka Goswami for winning the coveted Silver medal. By this medal, she has inspired many youngsters in India to take up this sport. May she keep scaling new heights of success in the times to come,” India PM Narendra Modi congratulated Goswami.
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“Congratulations to Priyanka Goswami for winning silver in race walking at #CommonwealthGames. Becoming the first Indian woman to win a medal in race walking you have opened a new chapter of achievements. Your feat will inspire millions, especially our girls,” President Droupadi Murmu said.
“Avinash Sable is a remarkable youngster. I am delighted he has won the Silver Medal in the men’s 3000m Steeplechase event. Sharing our recent interaction where he spoke about his association with the Army and how he overcame many obstacles. His life journey is very motivating,” Modi hailed Sable.
“Proud Moment!!! Avinash Sable bagged the Silver medal in the Men’s 3000m steeplechase final at #CommonwealthGames2022. Heartiest Congratulations & Blessings!” Union Minister Nitin Gadkari tweeted.
A farmer’s son from Mandwa village in Maharashtra’s Beed district, the Indian Armyman – Sable – had the satisfaction of beating World Championships bronze medallist Conseslus Kipruto of Kenya who finished sixth here with a time of 8:34.96.
Sable, who has earlier served at the Siachen Glaciers before taking to athletics, has been on a national record breaking spree in recent times. He had clocked 8:12.48 when he finished fifth at the prestigious Diamond League Meeting in Rabat last month.
Goswami clocked a personal best time of 43:38.83s to finish second behind Jemima Montag (42:34.30) of Australia. Emily Wamusyi Ngii (43:50.86) of Kenya took the bronze.
The other Indian in the fray, Bhawna Jat finished eighth and last with a personal best time of 47:14.13.
Harminder Singh was the first Indian to win a medal in race walk — a bronze — in the 20km event in 2010 CWG in Delhi.
“This is the first Commonwealth Games medal in walking for an Indian woman so I’m really pleased to have created a piece of history,” Goswami said after the event.
