Parul Chaudhary is an Indian athlete known for track and field sports. She specializes in 5000 metres and 3000 metres steeplechase. |
She was the first Indian woman to run the women's 3000m in under 9 minutes. |
In October 2023, she won gold in the 5000m event and silver in the 3000m steeplechase at the Hangzhou Asian Games. |
Parul belongs to the Jhajj gotra. |
During school, she ran barefoot and first competed in the 800 meters in 2011. |
She began running after her father suggested she participate in a school race. |
Parul trained in sugarcane fields and on the main road with her sister. |
Her mother shared that Parul used to be chubby as a child but became fit through running. |
She transitioned from 800 meters to 5000 meters professionally. |
She worked as a ticket examiner at Grant Road station after shifting to Mumbai. |
Parul achieved a personal best of 15:36:03 in the 5000m at the Asian Athletics Championship in Doha in 2019. |
She also set a personal best and national record in the 3000m steeplechase at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest in August 2023. |
In an interview, Parul mentioned facing criticism in the village for wearing shorts and running. |
Her goal was initially to secure a government job and then leave sports. |
Parul holds the national record for the women's 3000-meter event set in Los Angeles in 2022. |
She surpassed the national record in the 3000m event with a time of 8:57.19 in July 2022. |
Parul has been in the top 8 Asian Championship list twice and is a 5-time national champion. |