Parul Chaudhary will arrive at the Asian Games 2026 with more on her plate than she had at the previous edition. Far from being daunted, however, the Indian distance runner is relishing the challenge.
After winning the 5000m gold and 3000m steeplechase silver at the Hangzhou Asian Games, Parul will compete in three events at Aichi-Nagoya, adding the 1500m to her agenda. It will be the first time she will take on such a programme at the continental showpiece.
Her ambition, though, remains straightforward: return home with medals.
“Like I won gold and silver last time, this time I am thinking of bringing back the same medals for my country again,” Parul told Olympics.com at the Sports Authority of India’s regional centre in Bengaluru.
“It’s great for me that while I competed in two events last time, I am participating in three events this time. My preparations are going very well.”
The additional workload has done little to increase the weight of expectations on the Indian runner.
“I don’t really take pressure,” she said. “In fact, I am excited that I get to compete in a new event as well.”
While her previous Asian Games success provides confidence, Parul is also heading to Japan armed with lessons from more recent competition.
At the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, difficult weather conditions affected her performance in the 3000m steeplechase. She adapted just 24 hours later in the 5000m.
Parul believes the experience exposed an area in her preparation that needed addressing.
“Back then, I hadn’t trained specifically for rainy and cold weather conditions,” she explained. “Realising that Japan also experiences heat and rain, we are now actively training in rainy conditions here (in Bengaluru) to adapt better.”
That ability to identify weaknesses and adjust has been a recurring feature of Parul’s rise.
There was a time when progress in the steeplechase proved difficult. Around 2021, she recalled repeatedly clocking times around the 10-minute mark before eventually making a significant breakthrough.
“I was training continuously, but for a long time, the results weren’t coming,” Parul said. “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 Thiruvanthapuram). That’s when I felt that I could really perform well.”
The breakthrough changed the trajectory of her career and, according to Parul, greater exposure to international competition and training support helped her continue improving.
Now, with another Asian Games approaching and LA 2028 further on the horizon, Parul remains committed to excel.
“We stay and train continuously at SAI Bangalore without even going home or celebrating festivals, all to prepare for the Asian Games, Commonwealth Games and Olympics,” Parul said.
For the moment, though, Aichi-Nagoya is the priority. And after returning with two medals from her previous Asian Games, Parul has given herself three opportunities to add to that collection.
“It will feel amazing because representing the country twice in the Asian Games and bringing back medals both times makes any athlete feel extremely proud.”
read more: https://www.olympics.com/en/news/parul-chaudhary-asian-games-2026-athletics-three-events
