Parul, who won 5000m gold and 3000m steeplechase silver at the Hangzhou Asian Games, is preparing for her second continental Games at the Sports Authority of India’s regional centre in Bengaluru. Defending 5000m champion Parul Chaudhary will take on an expanded programme at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games 2026, adding the 1500m event to the 5000m and 3000m steeplechase, with the Indian distance runner viewing the increased workload as an opportunity rather than an added burden. The three-event schedule will mark a new challenge for the 30-year-old, but she is confident about her readiness.
Parul Aims for Medals at Upcoming Event
Parul, speaking to Olympics.com at the Sports Authority of India’s regional centre in Bengaluru, expressed her ambition to replicate her previous success by winning both gold and silver medals for her country. ‘Like I won gold and silver last time, this time I am thinking of bringing back the same medals for my country again,’ she stated. Parul also shared her excitement about competing in a new event, emphasizing that she does not feel pressure as she prepares for the competition. ‘I don’t really take pressure,’ she said. ‘In fact, I am excited that I get to compete in a new event as well.’
That’s when I felt that I could really perform well. “Around 2021, my timing in the 3000m steeplechase had plateaued. I was stuck around the 10-minute mark. But in 2022, I clocked 9:38 (at the Indian Grand Prix in Thiruvananthapuram).
“I was training continuously, but for a long time, the results weren’t coming,” Parul said. With the Asian Games now the immediate target and the Los Angeles Olympics also part of her longer-term planning, Parul said the sacrifices made during the training cycle are substantial. “We stay and train continuously at SAI Bengaluru without even going home or celebrating festivals, all to prepare for the Asian Games, Commonwealth Games and Olympics,” Parul said.
The episode prompted Parul and her team to modify their training approach ahead of the Asian Games, where conditions in Japan could also present challenges due to heat and rain.
