Avinash Sable crossed the line fourth in the men’s 3000m steeplechase, clocking 8:21.67, a season best that still left him short of the podium.
Ryuji Miura of Japan broke the Games record with 8:17.36 for gold, while compatriot Ryoma Aoki took silver at 8:17.60 and Qatar’s Zakaria Elahlaami finished third in 8:18.13.
The gap opened in the final lap as Sable struggled to keep up with the front trio, who had a tight lead; his pace dipped after the 2000m mark, a critical turning point that sealed his fourth‑place finish.
Sable, the defending champion and record holder, expressed disappointment, saying he had expected to defend his title. "I had a feeling I could push past the third place," he told reporters.
India’s medal haul still includes Vithya Ramraj’s bronze in the women’s 400m hurdles, where she broke PT Usha’s 40‑year‑old record with a personal best of 54.75 seconds, and the team’s 4x400m mixed relay silver.
With the steeplechase set to conclude early next week, the focus shifts to the upcoming 4x400m relay and the rest of the athletics schedule.