The 2025 Diamond League season got underway with a thrilling start at the Xiamen Diamond League meet in China, where Ethiopia’s Samuel Firewu shocked the field by defeating reigning Olympic and World Champion Soufiane El Bakkali in the men’s 3000m steeplechase as Avinash Sable finished 13th
Firewu, just 20 years old, delivered the performance of his career, clocking an incredible 8:05.61 — setting a new Meeting Record and World Lead in the process.
In a race expected to be another dominant showing for El Bakkali, Firewu’s aggressive front-running tactics and late-race stamina proved decisive. El Bakkali, who had established himself as the man to beat in recent years, had to settle for second with 8:06.66, still a strong seasonal opener but below his own high standards.
Behind them, Kenya’s Simon Kiprop Koech (8:07.12) and Edmund Serem (8:08.50) rounded off a fast top four, all athletes finishing under 8:10.
Disappointing Start for Avinash Sable
For Indian athletics fans, much of the anticipation was centered around national record-holder Avinash Sable, who was making his first appearance of the 2025 season after a solid 2024 that included several sub-8:12 performances.
However, Sable could not find his rhythm in Xiamen, finishing 13th out of 16 finishers with a timing of 8:22.59 — considerably slower than his personal best of 8:09.91.
The race saw the front pack set an early searing pace, and unfortunately, Sable lost contact with the lead group midway through. Despite trying to claw back some time over the final laps, he could never fully recover, crossing the finish line almost 17 seconds behind the winner.
Given Sable’s consistency in past seasons and his breakthrough year in 2022 when he broke multiple national records, this result was a setback.
However, early-season races can often serve as tune-ups, and it’s not unusual for distance runners to take a few races to hit their peak form.
The race started blisteringly fast, with Firewu setting a punishing tempo from the gun. By the halfway mark, the Ethiopian and El Bakkali had broken away from the rest of the field. Firewu kept pushing, refusing to allow El Bakkali an easy slipstream to victory, and launched a decisive surge with 300m remaining. El Bakkali tried to respond but could not close the gap, settling for a rare second-place finish.
Meanwhile, Sable seemed to have difficulty adjusting to the early pace and positioning. After the first kilometer, he was already trailing the leading group, and by 2000m, it was clear that his race strategy had shifted from contention to damage control. Despite his best efforts, Sable faded further in the final laps.
While the result is disappointing, there’s no reason for panic yet. This was Sable’s first major race of the season, and he now has a chance to reset. His next outing is scheduled for 3rd May, once again in China, at another Diamond League meet.
Given his experience and resilience — traits that have made him a trailblazer for Indian middle-distance running — Sable will surely look to analyze his performance in Xiamen and come back stronger. Fine-tuning his race rhythm, improving his hurdling efficiency, and ensuring a stronger finish will be key focus areas in the weeks ahead.
As for Samuel Firewu, his win at Xiamen sends a loud message to the rest of the steeplechase world. With his fearless running and impressive clocking of 8:05.61, he has established himself as a serious contender heading into the key part of the 2025 season.
Indian Result:
- 13th: Avinash Sable – 8:22.59
The Xiamen Diamond League opener provided plenty of excitement, upsets, and early-season lessons.
For Avinash Sable, the road to redemption starts immediately with his next race in just a week’s time. Indian fans will be hopeful that the Xiamen disappointment was just an early-season blip and that Sable can soon return to his record-breaking best.
