TTE Parul fetch gold in Asian Games with an eye to become DSP in UP police, her buddy Annu wins gold in javelin

LUCKNOW: “It was the last 20-meters and Japanese athlete Ririka Hironaka was right in front of me. This was do or die to get gold...& I just bursted for next 4 seconds to cross the finish line first,” said Parul Chaudhary (28), who made history on Tuesday night by becoming the first Indian woman to win 5000 meters, and fetched maiden gold in the Asian games, following a Silver win in 3000 metre steeplechase on Monday.

She clocked 15:14:76 for 5000m and 9:27:63 for 3000m steeplechase.

Currently posted as train ticket examiner in Mumbai for Western Railways, Parul wishes to don a uniform and that too of UP police.

“Aapne state mein police ki vardi mein kaam karne ka alag hi baat hain (It’s altogether a different feeling to don the police uniform of the home state and work for it. "I think if given the chance I’ll join the force as DSP,”said Parul, who sometime back had read that UP government will offer DSP post to athletes who will win gold medals.

With Asian Games medals, Parul has secured her berth for the Paris Olympics. “I will improve my timing and will focus to win gold again,” said Parul who hails from Eklota village of Meerut district and joined Indian railways in 2015.

“I’m thankful to my seniors in railways who have supported me all through my sporting career. My family, especially parents, coach and friends are pillars of my strength. I did won medals but had all these people and institutions including sports authority of India not behind me, I wouldn’t have achieved what I have,” she said while speaking to TOI over phone from Hangzhou .

Parul's journey started as an athlete from Meerut stadium where she was mentored by coach BK Bajpai and Gaurav Tyagi. Two-years later she went to NCOE Patiala, and then to National Camp since 2016. She made it to the Asian games after winning gold in the interstate athletic championship.

Gaurav Tyagi, athletics coach of Kailash Prakash stadium, Meerut said, “Parul used to train and workout in a group of boys. She used to travel to the stadium for 25-kms on bicycle. She has often expressed that she wants to become DSP in the police force.”

In the stadium Parul was joined by her sister Preeti Chaudhary for athletics training. Both sisters were introduced to coach Gaurav Tyagi by Annu Rani's father.

On Tuesday Annu also etched her name in India's sporting history by winning gold in javelin throw of 62.92m in her fourth attempt.

Annu and Parul villages are 15-km apart. Annu used to throw sugarcane as javelin in her village. Later in 2014, she won a bronze in the Asian Games.

“For last four months, Annu practiced in Germany. We are happy that she secured gold for the country,” said Amarpal singh, Annu’s father.

Meanwhile after Parul and Annu’s win, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath congratulated both athletes for winning the medal. “You both are our nation’s pride,” he said in a tweet.