Coaches may come and go but late Nikolai Snesarev will have a special place in star steeplechaser Avinash Sable's heart for his contribution in his overall growth as an international athlete.
Sable beat a strong field of Kenyan athletes to win Silver in the 3000m steeplechase at the Commonwealth Games on Saturday and it was the Belarusian, who instilled that self belief in the army man.
Snesarev tragically passed away in 2021 after he came back to India that year, 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.
"The preparations for the Olympics were going well when he left us (died in March 2021). 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.
s"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 be intimated when we are up against international athletes. It is not as difficult as we often think," Avinash said.