The women’s 3000m steeplechase has often been one of the most grueling and unpredictable events on the track, demanding not only endurance but tactical awareness and precision in barrier technique.
For India, the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo offered hope that Parul Chaudhary, the national record holder and a finalist in the previous edition, could once again rise to the occasion. But those hopes were dashed as both Parul and Ankita Dhyani failed to advance to the final, ending India’s campaign in the event earlier than expected.
Parul clocked 9:22.24 to finish ninth in her heat and 20th overall, far outside the top 16 qualification cut-off. It was a performance that stood in stark contrast to her exploits two years earlier, when she reached the final in Budapest 2023 and went on to finish a creditable 10th overall. The disappointment was not merely about the result but also about the way the race unfolded. True to her recurring pattern at major championships, Parul got boxed in at the back of the pack in the early stages. By the time the bell lap arrived, she looked short of legs, unable to push through and position herself with the leading group.
For an athlete with her experience on the world stage Asian Games gold medallist, national record holder, and a proven championship racer this was a missed opportunity to impose herself.
Adding to the frustration was the fact that three athletes who finished ahead of her including national record-breakers from Israel and Finland came into the championships with personal bests in the 9:22–9:24 range, almost identical to Parul’s pre-competition profile. Yet, when the decisive moves came, they found another gear while Parul could not respond. Her national record of 9:12.46, set last season, remains well clear of what she managed on the day, underlining that this was not a case of being outclassed, but rather of underperforming relative to her own standards.
Ankita’s Learning Curve
In contrast, for Ankita Dhyani, the championships were always going to be about exposure and experience. Making her debut at this level, Ankita finished 11th in her heat with a time of 10:03.22, placing 35th overall.
Her performance was well off the global standard required to progress, but at 22, she remains a developing athlete. For Ankita, the race was more about measuring herself against the world’s best and learning the demands of a major international competition. Her struggles both in terms of pace and barrier rhythm highlighted the gap she needs to bridge, but also offered her and her coaches a valuable reference point for future development.
The Tokyo championships highlighted how rapidly the global standard in women’s steeplechase continues to rise. The slowest qualifying time for the final hovered around the 9:15 mark, territory that Parul has touched but not yet consistently reproduced in championship settings. For perspective, Parul’s 9:22.24 left her almost 10 seconds outside her own national record and short of the sharpness required to handle the tactical surges at this level. While her seasonal build-up included steady performances, she has yet to show the ability to convert them into aggressive, front-foot racing at world championships.
Several factors contributed to India’s underwhelming showing:
- Race Positioning: Both athletes allowed themselves to get detached early, with Parul repeating the tactical errors seen at the Paris Olympics 2024, where she too struggled to move up at critical moments.
- Barrier Technique: Neither looked particularly efficient over the water jumps, losing rhythm and momentum against sharper competitors.
- Lack of Closing Speed: When the pace lifted in the second half of the race, especially in the final kilometre, Parul could not summon the extra gear that separates qualifiers from also-rans.
For Parul, these are worrying signs. At 29, she has the experience and conditioning but must refine her tactical execution if she is to remain competitive internationally.
India’s ambitions in distance running have risen sharply in recent years, with athletes like Avinash Sable proving that world-class breakthroughs are possible. In women’s steeplechase, Parul’s national record and continental medals had suggested a similar pathway. However, Tokyo 2025 has been a sobering reminder that consistency at the world level remains elusive. That said, the talent pipeline is not empty. Ankita’s entry into this stage, despite the struggles, is a sign that India is nurturing depth in the event.
The challenge now is to provide athletes with the right international exposure, sports science support, and race craft development so that they can transition from continental success to world-class competitiveness.
For Parul, the immediate focus will likely be recalibration ahead of the 2026 Asian Games and the next Olympic cycle leading up to Los Angeles 2028. Her national record proves she has the ability to run times that could place her in a world championship final but championship racing demands more than times. It demands aggression, positioning, and tactical awareness from the gun.
For Ankita, the Tokyo experience should serve as motivation rather than discouragement. The technical gaps are clear, but so is her potential. At her age, exposure to high-level competition is invaluable, and with targeted training, she has the capacity to lower her times substantially.
Tokyo 2025 will not be remembered fondly for India in the women’s 3000m steeplechase. Both Parul Chaudhary and Ankita Dhyani bowed out in the heats, with Parul finishing 20th overall in 9:22.24 and Ankita placing 35th with 10:03.22. For Parul, it was a frustrating repeat of old mistakes, while for Ankita, it was a tough but necessary initiation. Ultimately, this campaign underlined the distance India still needs to travel in women’s steeplechase at the world level. But it also leaves a clear message: the talent exists, the records are within reach, and with sharper racing and stronger preparation, India can still aspire to be more than just participants.
The challenge now is turning promise into performance when it matters most.
