NEW DELHI: India’s leading steeplechaser Parul Chaudhary has set her sights on another inspiring campaign at the upcoming Asian Games in Japan, with the 31-year-old aiming not only for podium finishes but also to rewrite her own national record in the women’s 3,000m steeplechase.Parul emerged as one of India’s standout performers at the previous Asiad in Hangzhou, where she clinched gold in the women’s 5,000m and followed it up with a silver medal in the 3,000m steeplechase. The remarkable double podium finish established her as the country’s premier steeplechase athlete. She also became the first Indian woman to clock a sub-nine-minute timing in the 3,000m event. The Meerut-born runner has begun her new season in impressive fashion. Competing against a strong field at the Shanghai Diamond League in China’s Shaoxing, Parul finished a creditable seventh in the 3,000m steeplechase with a timing of 9:12.84. The effort left her just 0.38 seconds shy of her own national record of 9:12.46, which she had set while winning silver at the Asian athletics championships in Gumi last year.“I am happy to start my season on a strong note. The first race went as I expected. I will look to improve upon my timing in future competitions,” Parul said. “I’m aiming to break my own national record. I was quite close to doing so in Shanghai and I’m confident of achieving the mark. I’m aiming to win gold in both the 3,000m steeplechase and 5,000m races at the Asiad.”Her timing at the DL meet also helped her comfortably achieve the Athletics Federation of India’s (AFI) qualification standard for the Aichi-Nagoya Asiad. She has already secured qualification for the Glasgow Commonwealth Games.Parul said early qualification would allow her to prepare better for major competitions ahead. “I’m planning to compete in some good events that will give me more experience in the lead-up to both the continental multisport events,” she said.Despite expecting stiff competition from dominant African runners at the CWG, Parul remains confident. “I have raced against them in the DL events and World Championships. They are strong competitors, but my preparations are no less,” she said.Currently training at the Inspire Institute of Sport (IIS) in Bellary under coach Dr Kalyan Chaudhary, Parul stressed the importance of fitness and injury prevention. “I rely on endurance work and scientific methods of training. Remaining injury-free is the most important aspect this season,” she added.
