Athletics: India's Parul Chaudhary breaks 3000m national record
What's the story
India's Parul Chaudhary broke the women's 3000m national record at the Sound Running meet in Los Angeles on Sunday. Chaudhary, 27, covered the distance in 8:57.19 to finish third. She broke the six-year-old national record set by Suriya Loganathan (9:04.5) in April 2016. During the event, Chaudhary was trailing at fifth before gaining momentum in the last two laps. Here are further details.
Twitter Post
Chaudhary scripts history!
#NationalRecord Alert 🚨#ParulChaudhary clocked 8:57.19 in women’s 3000m at UA Sunset Tour, LA to set the New NR by breaking the 6-yr old NR (9:04.5) of Suriya Loganathan
— SAI Media (@Media_SAI) July 3, 2022
She was trailing at 5th spot but gained momentum in last 2 laps to finish 3rd on the podium #Athletics pic.twitter.com/YYUrgu4oql
Context
Why does this story matter?
Chaudhary's achievement is huge in Indian athletics as the participation from the nation in 3000m is quite low. Notably, the 3000m is a non-Olympic event. Wang Junxia of China owns world record in this event among women, clocking 8:06.11 in 1993. It is to note that Chaudhary recently won the gold medal in women's 3000m steeplechase at the nationals in Chennai.
Information
World Athletics Championships: Chaudhary to represent India (3000m steeplechase)
Chaudhary will represent India in the 3000m steeplechase at the 2022 World Athletics Championships (USA). She is one of the five Indian women in the competition, the others being S Dhanalakhsmi (200m), Aishwarya Kailash Mishra (400m), Annu Rani (Javelin Throw), and Priyanka Goswami (20km Walk).
Gold
Chaudhary starred at 2021 National Open Athletics Championships
In September 2021, Chaudhary secured his second gold medal in 3000m steeplechase at the National Open Athletics Championships. She won the event with a personal best of 9:51.01 seconds. The former beat Komal Jagadale in the event, who finished second with a timing of 9:51.03. Notably, Chaudhary had won the 5000m race on the opening day.
Achievements
Other notable achievements of Chaudhary
Last month, Chaudhary won the gold medal in 3000m Steeplechase at the National Inter State Senior Athletics Championship (9:42.16). She bagged the bronze medal in the 5000m event at the 2019 Asian Athletics Championships in Doha (15:36.03). The Indian finished fifth in the 3000m Steeplechase at the 2019 Asian Championships. She grabbed the fourth spot in the 2017 Bhubaneswar Asian Championships (3000m Steeplechase).