Parul Chaudhary rewrote the record books on Sunday, breaking her own national mark to secure bronze in the women’s 3000m steeplechase at the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya. Chaudhary clocked 9:08.67 seconds, improving on her previous national record of 9:12.46 set in 2025 at the Asian Championships.
The Indian steeplechaser finished behind Bahrain’s Winfred Yavi, who took gold in a Games-record 9:04.36, and Kazakhstan’s Norah Jeruto, who claimed silver in 9:06.82. The performance underlines Chaudhary’s continued progress in one of the most demanding track events, as she becomes the first Indian woman to dip under 9:10 in the 3000m steeplechase.
Asian Games 2026: Parul Chaudhary breaks her own National record; Sarvesh Kushare wins silver matching gold-medal height
The result marks Chaudhary’s second Asian Games medal in the event after she won silver at the 2023 edition. It also adds to India’s growing athletics tally at the Games. Meanwhile, fellow Indian Ankita Dhyani finished a strong fourth in a personal best of 9:19.24.
On the other hand, Indian high jumper Sarvesh Kushare secured a silver medal in the men’s high jump final in Aichi-Nagoya on Sunday. He cleared a best height of 2.25 metres, matching the mark of Chinese Taipei’s Hsuan Fu. Tiebreakers awarded gold to the Chinese Taipei athlete, while Kushare had to settle for silver.
The 31-year-old from Maharashtra cleared successive heights of 2.10m, 2.14m, 2.18m, 2.22m and 2.25m before failing three attempts at 2.28m. Kushare, who holds the Indian national record of 2.31m set earlier this year, also won silver at the 2026 Commonwealth Games.
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