The 3000m steeplechase is one of the hardest events in athletics. To win silver in that and then recover, in less than 24 hours, to go one better and win gold in a gruelling 5000m speak volumes about Parul Chaudhary’s fitness and determination as the Indian added a third gold to India’s athletics tally here on Monday.
She was soon joined by veteran Annu Rani, managing her season’s best throw of 62.92m to finish on top in the javelin throw as India continued to shine on the track & field. It was Annu’s first throw past 60m this year, the previous best being a 59.24m in May. In fact, this was her best performance since May last year!
That the two gold medalists of the day for India were both veteran women athletes also speaks volumes on the growing fitness levels of Indian athletes and India’s improving status – the country has won 22 medals so far and is currently second in the sport behind China in numbers.
