Doha, Oct 2 (IANS): Avinash Sable on Tuesday broke his own national record but failed to qualify for the finals of the men's 3000m steeplechase in the World Championships here.
Sable, 24, clocked 8 minutes, 25.23 seconds to finish seventh in first round heat number 3 and 20th overall out of 44 athletes who completed the race. The top three in each of the three heats and the next six fastest qualify for the final race.
Sable's earlier national record was 8:28.94 in set during the Federation Cup earlier this year. Sable had to overcome hurdles during his race as he was blocked by reigning junior world champion Takele Nigate of Ethiopia and had to virtually climb up the obstacle, thereby losing time.
He also had to jump over another competitor as four-five athletes at the rear fell over each other.
In the end, he missed out on a spot in the final despite setting his own national record.