Commonwealth Games 2026: All you need to know about Parul Chaudhary

Parul Chaudhary has established herself as one of India's most accomplished distance runners through consistent success in the 3000m steeplechase and 5000m.

A multiple-time Asian champion and Olympian, Parul has been one of India's leading hopes in women's distance running over the last few years.

The national record holder in both events heads to the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow after another impressive season in which she lowered the Indian record in the 5000m.

Early days

Born on April 15, 1995, in Iklauta village near Meerut in Uttar Pradesh, Parul grew up in a farming family as one of four children.

She began running barefoot as a teenager and entered competitive athletics in 2011, initially focusing on the 800m before gradually moving up to longer distances.

Over time, she transitioned through the 1500m and 5000m before finding her strongest event in the 3000m steeplechase, where her endurance and technical ability over barriers and the water jump helped her emerge as one of India's leading athletes.

Alongside her athletics career, Parul joined Western Railway in 2015 before being appointed Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) with the Uttar Pradesh Police in January 2024.

Rising through the ranks

Parul's rise on the international stage began with gold in the women's 5000m at the 2019 Asian Athletics Championships before she added another gold at the South Asian Games later that year.

She reached another level over the next few seasons, completing the distance double at both the 2023 and 2025 Asian Athletics Championships by winning gold in the 3000m steeplechase and 5000m.

At the 2022 Asian Games in Hangzhou, she claimed gold in the 5000m and silver in the 3000m steeplechase, adding to an already impressive collection of continental medals.

Parul also represented India in both events at the Paris Olympics, becoming one of the country's few athletes to compete in multiple distance disciplines at the Games.

Record-breaking run

Parul has continued to improve despite already being one of India's most decorated distance runners.

In 2025, she lowered her own national record in the women's 3000m steeplechase to 9:12.46, further strengthening her position as India's fastest-ever athlete in the event. However, she was able to participate in only three events due to injuries in 2025.

A year later, she rewrote the national record in the 5000m after clocking 15:04.26 at the Meeting Nikaïa in Nice, France, improving her previous best by more than six seconds.

She also holds the Indian national record in the 3000m, underlining her versatility across middle- and long-distance events.

Eyes on Glasgow

Parul heads to her second Commonwealth Games after another season of record-breaking performances and consistent results on the international circuit.

The women's 3000m steeplechase and 5000m are expected to feature a strong field in Glasgow, but Parul's experience, continental success and recent form make her one of India's leading athletes in the endurance events.

From running barefoot in a village near Meerut to becoming a multiple-time Asian champion, Olympian and national record holder, Parul has played a major role in elevating Indian women's distance running.

She now reaches the Commonwealth Games looking to build on that legacy with another strong performance on the international stage.