Avinash Sable, India’s 3000 metres steeplechase silver medal winner in the ongoing Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, said coach Nikolai Snesarev will have a special place in his heart for the contribution in his overall growth as an international athlete. Sable beat a strong field of Kenyan athletes to win silver on Saturday and according to him it was the Belarusian who instilled that self-belief in the army man. Snesarev died in his room at the NIS, Patiala, in March 2021. He had come back to India following a long gap.

“I will never forget what coach Nikolai Snesarev did for me. Many coaches will come and go in my life but his influence on my career has been life-changing. He changed my belief. I have never seen a more honest coach in my life,” Avinash choked up while speaking about Snesarev during a virtual media conference on Sunday.

“The preparations for the Olympics were going well when he left us. It was a really difficult time for me. I would have never believed that Indians could fight Kenyans. I thought Indians go to international events just to participate. He changed that for me,” he added.

Avinash’s memorable run not only made him the first Indian to win a medal in 3000 metre steeplechase event, but he also ensured he shattered the almost two-and-a-half decade old Kenyan hegemony in the discipline as well. “Indians have the ability to do well in all events at the world level. We have to believe that we have skills and talent. We should not feel intimidated when we are up against international athletes. It is not as difficult as we often think,” Avinash said.

Sable, whose stardom is on its ascendency, feels that the time he spent abroad was instrumental to his success at the showpiece event. “Training abroad was key for me. Had I stayed back it wouldn’t have helped me.”