Hangzhou Asian Games | Another field day for India in track and field events

India's Parul Chaudhary & Priti win silver & bronze in women's 3000m steeplechase at Asian Games. Parul clocked 9:27.63 sec for silver, Priti 9:43.32 sec for bronze. Winfred Mutile Yavi of Bahrain won gold with Games record 9:18.28 sec. Parul set national record in 3000m steeplechase at World Championships, qualifying for 2024 Paris Olympics.

India’s Parul Chaudhary and Priti secured silver and bronze medals respectively in the women’s 3000m steeplechase while unheralded Ancy Sojan claimed a silver medal in the women’s long jump at the Asian Games in Hangzhou on October 2.

Parul clocked 9:27.63 seconds, which was more than nine seconds behind Bahrain’s Yavi Winfred Mutile, who set an Asian Games record on way to defending her title.

The Bahrain runner took the top podium finish in 9:18.28, a new Games record.

The previous Games record stood in the name of country-mate Jebet Ruth (9:31.36 sec) set during the 2014 Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea.

Though Parul also breached the Asian Games record, it was nowhere close to her national record and personal best of 9:15.31 clocked at the World Championships in Budapest, which helped her qualify for the Paris Olympics, in August.

Compatriot Priti finished a good 16 seconds behind Parul, clocking a personal best 9:43.32 seconds to win the bronze in a close finish with another Bahrain runner Mekonen Tigest Getent, who timed 9:43.71 seconds to finish fourth.