Asian Games 2026: Parul Chaudhary Wins Bronze in Steeplechase

By: Women Entrepreneurs Review Team | Monday, 28 September 2026

India’s Parul Chaudhary produced a record-breaking performance to win bronze in the women’s 3000m steeplechase at the Asian Games 2026 in Nagoya on September 27. The 31-year-old clocked a personal best of 9:08.67, setting a new national record and becoming the first Indian woman to break the 9:10 barrier in the event.

Key Highlights:

• Parul Chaudhary wins bronze with a national record of 9:08.67
• Winfred Yavi takes gold with an Asian Games record of 9:04.36
• Ankita finishes fourth with a personal best of 9:19.24

Bahrain’s Winfred Yavi won gold in an Asian Games record of 9:04.36, while Kazakhstan’s Norah Jeruto Tanui claimed silver in 9:06.82. Parul maintained her position through the final lap to complete the podium and significantly improve on her previous national record of 9:12.46.

The bronze added another medal to Parul’s growing Asian Games record. She had won silver in the same event at the Hangzhou edition in 2023, where she also secured gold in the women’s 5000m. With medals across multiple editions, Parul has now established herself as one of India’s most consistent distance runners on the continental stage.

Her latest achievement also brought her level with former Indian steeplechase runner Sudha Singh’s Asian Games medal tally in the event. Singh won gold at the 2010 Asian Games and silver in 2018, while Parul has now collected silver and bronze in the 3000m steeplechase across the 2023 and 2026 editions.

Parul’s national-record run was part of a strong showing by India in the event, with teammate Ankita finishing fourth. She also recorded a personal best of 9:19.24, placing two Indian athletes among the top four finishers.

The result adds to a notable career for Parul, who has won major medals at continental championships and represented India at the Paris 2024 Olympics in both the 3000m steeplechase and 5000m. She won the steeplechase title at the 2023 Asian Athletics Championships and has also collected medals in the 5000m at the Asian Championships.

Parul has continued to improve her national record over the years. She first set a new mark of 9:15.31 at the 2023 World Championships in Budapest before lowering it to 9:12.46 at the 2025 Asian Championships in Gumi. Her 9:08.67 in Nagoya represents another significant improvement and marks her first time under nine minutes and ten seconds.

The medal came during a productive day for India’s athletics contingent. Ancy Sojan Edappilly won silver in the women’s long jump with a 6.53m effort, while Sarvesh Kushare secured silver in the men’s high jump after clearing 2.25m. The performances added to India’s medal haul in athletics at the Aichi-Nagoya Games.

Following Parul’s achievement, Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated the athlete, highlighting her personal-best performance and praising her dedication and perseverance.

Parul will now turn her attention to the women’s 5000m, an event in which she won gold at the previous Asian Games. Her record-breaking steeplechase bronze has already added another significant chapter to her Asian Games career while strengthening India’s presence in women’s middle- and long-distance athletics.