CM Majhi Hails Parul Chaudhary's Bronze at Asian Games 2026
Synopsis
Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi congratulated long-distance runner Parul Chaudhary after she won a Bronze Medal in the Women's 3000m Steeplechase at the Asian Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, setting a personal best of 9:08.67.
Key Takeaways
Parul Chaudhary won Bronze in the Women's 3000m Steeplechase at the Asian Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan .
Her winning time of 9:08.67 is a new personal best for the Indian long-distance runner.
Odisha CM Mohan Charan Majhi publicly congratulated Chaudhary on X on September 27, 2026 .
Athletics continues to be a consistent source of medals for India at the Asian Games.
Chaudhary's performance sets the stage for higher expectations at the World Athletics Championships .
A personal best and a continental medal — Parul Chaudhary delivered both at the Asian Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, clocking 9:08.67 to claim Bronze in the Women's 3000m Steeplechase on Sunday, September 27. Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi was among the first to publicly celebrate the achievement, calling it 'a proud moment for India.'
A personal best that wrote itself into the record books
Chaudhary's time of 9:08.67 is a new personal best — the kind of number that signals an athlete hitting peak form when it matters most. The 3000m Steeplechase is a gruelling event that combines distance running with 28 barriers and seven water jumps, demanding both raw speed and exceptional technical rhythm. That Chaudhary improved her own mark on the continental stage underlines just how far India's women's athletics programme has travelled.
Majhi's congratulations and India's growing athletics footprint
CM Majhi, who assumed office in 2024, posted his congratulations on X, writing: 'Heartiest congratulations to Parul Chaudhary on winning the Bronze Medal in the Women's 3000m Steeplechase at the Asian Games 2026. With a personal best of 9:08.67, she has once again shown remarkable endurance and determination on the continental stage.' The phrase 'once again' is telling — it frames this not as a one-off surprise but as confirmation of a sustained upward arc. Indian political leaders routinely congratulate athletes after major international events, but the specific acknowledgement of a personal best time signals genuine engagement with the athlete's journey rather than a generic celebratory note.
Athletics has formed a consistent and growing component of India's medal tally at the Asian Games across recent editions. Chaudhary's bronze adds to that ledger, and at a venue — Aichi-Nagoya — that represents Japan's ambitious hosting of one of Asia's biggest multi-sport spectacles, the visibility of the achievement is amplified further.
The next test for India's distance runners will come at the World Athletics Championships, where performances like this one will sharpen expectations and justify selections. For now, though, Chaudhary's 9:08.67 stands — a number that is both a personal milestone and a national statement.
Point of View
But the specificity — naming the personal best time — reflects a broader political awareness of sports as soft power and national pride. Indian leaders have increasingly used major international sporting moments to reinforce a 'Viksit Bharat' narrative of excellence across domains. Chaudhary's medal in a technically demanding discipline like the steeplechase also quietly makes the case for sustained investment in athletics infrastructure. The congratulations double as political capital: associating governance with national achievement on a continental stage.
NationPress
27 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What medal did Parul Chaudhary win at the Asian Games 2026?
Parul Chaudhary won a Bronze Medal in the Women's 3000m Steeplechase at the Asian Games 2026 held in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan .
What was Parul Chaudhary's time at the Asian Games 2026?
Parul Chaudhary clocked a personal best of 9:08.67 in the Women's 3000m Steeplechase at the Asian Games 2026.
Where are the Asian Games 2026 being held?
The Asian Games 2026 are being held in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan .
Who is Parul Chaudhary?
Parul Chaudhary is an Indian long-distance runner who specialises in the 3000m Steeplechase and has represented India at multiple international competitions.
Why did Odisha CM Mohan Majhi congratulate Parul Chaudhary?
Odisha CM Mohan Charan Majhi congratulated Parul Chaudhary on winning a Bronze Medal and setting a personal best at the Asian Games 2026 , calling it 'a proud moment for India.'
