India’s national record holder in the women’s 3000m steeplechase, Parul Chaudhary, heads into the 2026 Commonwealth Games as one of the country’s strongest medal contenders after an impressive start to the season.
Parul has opened her 2026 campaign by clocking 9:12.84, finishing just 0.38 seconds outside her personal best and Indian national record of 9:12.46. The performance underlines her consistency at the highest level and suggests she is in excellent form ahead of the year’s major championships.
Her season-best currently ranks fourth among Commonwealth athletes in 2026, placing her firmly in contention in what promises to be one of the most competitive events at the Games.
The Commonwealth season list is led by Peruth Chemutai of Uganda, the Tokyo 2020 Olympic champion, who has recorded a world-class 8:51.06. Close behind is Faith Cherotich of Kenya, the reigning world champion, with 8:51.48. Great Britain’s Elise Thorner occupies third place with 9:07.39, while Parul’s 9:12.84 places her ahead of Kenya’s Doris Lemngole, who rounds out the top five with 9:18.66.
The presence of Olympic and world champions makes the women’s steeplechase one of the strongest events on the Commonwealth Games programme. However, Parul has consistently established herself among the leading athletes in Asia and continues to close the gap on the world’s best through her steady progression over recent seasons.
With her national record still fresh and her early-season performance already among the top marks in the Commonwealth this year, Parul enters the Games with genuine medal aspirations. If she can reproduce—or improve upon—her personal best on the biggest stage, she will be well placed to challenge the continent’s finest and add another major international achievement to her career.
As the countdown to the Commonwealth Games continues, Parul Chaudhary remains one of India’s most exciting athletes to watch in the pursuit of podium success.