Anurag Thakur hails Parul Chaudhary's Asian Games bronze
Synopsis
BJP MP Anurag Thakur congratulated Parul Chaudhary on winning a bronze medal in the Women's 3000m Steeplechase at the 2026 Asian Games, where she also set a national record of 9:08.6 — a milestone for Indian distance running.
Key Takeaways
Parul Chaudhary won a bronze medal in the Women's 3000m Steeplechase at the 2026 Asian Games .
Her winning time of 9:08.6 is a new Indian national record in the event.
BJP MP Anurag Thakur , former Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, publicly congratulated Chaudhary on 27 September 2026 .
The Target Olympic Podium Scheme , expanded in 2016-17 , has been part of the broader framework supporting elite Indian athletes in athletics.
The result strengthens India's growing medal presence in women's distance-running events at continental competitions.
A national record on a continental stage — Parul Chaudhary clocked 9:08.6 in the Women's 3000m Steeplechase at the 2026 Asian Games, claiming a bronze medal and etching her name deeper into Indian athletics history. BJP MP Anurag Thakur, former Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, was among the first prominent voices to salute the achievement, posting his congratulations on Sunday, 27 September 2026.
A bronze backed by a national record — what Parul's 9:08.6 means
The steeplechase demands a rare combination of middle-distance endurance and technical hurdling, making every second shaved off a national record doubly significant. Parul's 9:08.6 in the 3000m Steeplechase is not just a podium result — it resets the benchmark for Indian women in one of athletics' most demanding disciplines. Continental medals paired with national records are the clearest signal that an athlete is moving from promise to elite performance.
Chaudhary has built a reputation as one of India's most consistent long-distance runners on the international circuit. Her medal at the Asian Games, the continent's premier multi-sport event held under the Olympic Council of Asia, arrives at a moment when Indian athletics is steadily expanding its medal footprint beyond track sprints and field events.
Thakur's congratulations and India's sports investment arc
Anurag Thakur's post — 'Heartiest Congratulations to Parul Chaudhary for winning Bronze in the Women's 3000m Steeplechase at #AsianGames2026 with a spectacular National Record timing of 9:08.6. The entire nation is proud of you. Jai Hind 🇮🇳' — reflects a well-established practice among Indian political leaders of publicly amplifying athletes' continental achievements. But Thakur's voice carries particular weight here: as former Sports Minister, he was at the helm when athlete-support infrastructure was being scaled up.
The Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS), expanded in 2016-17, extended financial and logistical support to elite athletes across priority disciplines including athletics, giving runners like Chaudhary access to international competition exposure and specialised coaching. Whether Parul was directly supported under TOPS is unconfirmed, but the programme's broader effect on raising the competitive floor for Indian distance runners is part of the backdrop to results like this.
Where India's women's steeplechase goes from here
A national record at a senior Asian Games is the kind of performance that puts an athlete squarely on the radar for the next World Athletics Championships and, crucially, Olympic qualification cycles. Indian athletics selectors and coaches will now watch Chaudhary's next campaign with sharper focus. The benchmark has moved — and the question is by how much it can move again.
Point of View
While ceremonial, are a reminder that the political ownership of sports milestones remains tight, particularly among former ministers whose tenures coincided with the infrastructure investments now producing results. The broader arc here is the TOPS framework: when an athlete breaks a national record at a continental games, it validates the logic of sustained, programme-level support over one-off talent hunts. The real test will come at the next Olympic cycle, where Chaudhary's new benchmark will be measured against a far deeper global field.
NationPress
28 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What medal did Parul Chaudhary win at Asian Games 2026?
Parul Chaudhary won a bronze medal in the Women's 3000m Steeplechase at the 2026 Asian Games , with a national record time of 9:08.6 .
What is Parul Chaudhary's national record in the 3000m steeplechase?
Parul Chaudhary set a new Indian national record of 9:08.6 in the Women's 3000m Steeplechase at the 2026 Asian Games.
Why did Anurag Thakur congratulate Parul Chaudhary?
Anurag Thakur , BJP MP and former Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, congratulated Parul Chaudhary for winning a bronze medal and setting a national record at the 2026 Asian Games .
What is the Target Olympic Podium Scheme?
The Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) is an Indian government initiative, expanded in 2016-17 , that provides financial and logistical support to elite athletes in priority sports, including athletics, to prepare them for global competition.
How significant is the 3000m steeplechase for Indian women's athletics?
The Women's 3000m Steeplechase is one of the most demanding track events, combining endurance and hurdle technique. Parul Chaudhary's national record at a senior Asian Games marks a significant advance for the discipline in India.
