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World Cross Country 2023: Avinash Sable best in Asia, Parul Chaudhary top Indian athlete

Parul Chaudhary crossed the finish line in 20th place out of 90 women in the competition, clocking a timing of 35:39.

By Abhiruchi Rout | Feb 18, 2023 | 2 Min Read

Parul Chaudhary was the top Indian performer at the World Athletics Cross Country Championships 2023, which were held in Bathurst, Australia. The 27-year-old Chaudhary crossed the finish line in 20th place out of 90 women in the competition, clocking a timing of 35:39. Avinash Sable, who won silver in the men’s 3000 meter steeplechase at the Commonwealth Games, placed 35th overall in the men’s category with a time of 31:43. Sanjivani Yadav and Chavi Yadav, two more Indians competing in the women’s division, placed 47th and 55th, respectively, with performances of 37:30 and 39 minutes. Another Indian, Anand Singh, finished 86th in the men’s category with a timing of 35:20.

On a bright, sunny day at the Mount Panorama in Bathurst, New South Wales, Avinash Sable who was also the top Indian athlete at the Delhi Half Marathon 2022, got off to a sluggish start and was 76th overall after the first lap. In the fourth and final circuit of the race, which saw 115 athletes vying for the top honor, the Indian runner pushed up the pace gradually and came in 35th position. Among all the Asian competitors competing at the World Athletics Cross Country Championships 2023, Avinash’s performance of 31:43 was also the best.

Who won the men’s and women’s titles?

Jacob Kiplimo of Uganda, the bronze medallist in the 10,000m at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and the world championships in Oregon in 2022, claimed the men’s title in 29:17. Another Ugandan athlete Joshua Cheptegei, who claimed the crown in the last edition, the two-time 10,000-meter world champion and 5,000-meter gold medalist for Tokyo 2020, took the bronze medal in a time of 29:37. Kenya’s Beatrice Chebet, a silver medalist at the World Championships, won the women’s event in 33:48. Tsigie Gebreselama of Ethiopia and Agnes Jebet Ngetich of Kenya rounded the podium with performances of 33:56 and 34:00, respectively. Letesenbet Gidey, the holder of the world records for the 5000 and 10,000 meters, fell only a few yards short of what appeared to be victory, disqualifying herself from the race.

Kenya (10) emerged as the top nation with six gold, two silver, and two bronze medals. While Ethiopia finished its campaign as the second-best country with 10 medals, out of which two were gold and seven were silver medals. Uganda and the United States emerged as the third and fourth-best nations respectively. The host country Australia finished fifth with a bronze medal win in the mixed relay event led by Ollie Hoare and Jessica Hull. The cross-country championships were held after almost four years due to the COVID-19 pandemic.