HANGZHOU: Twenty-four hours after winning silver in the 3000m steeplechase, with the body further drained after just three hours of sleep, and a likely Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) post in Uttar Pradesh Police on the line, Parul Chaudhary made a sensational late dash to snatch victory in the 5000 metres on Tuesday.
"In our UP, it takes a gold medal to get you the post of DSP. I hope this effort gets me that position," Parul was so candid that everyone who understood her had a hearty laugh as she basked in the victory.
Her run though was no laughing matter. Unlike in the steeplechase where she led or stuck to Bahrain's eventual winner Winfred Mutile Yavi for most part, Parul was content to stay middle of the pack, even when the pace slackened. While Japan's Ririka Hironaka led the field through the first 1000m, the next two 1000m splits were owned by Edao Bontu, before Hironaka again took over in the last lap. Chaudhary was patient even when the Japanese runner seemed to have opened up a potentially winning gap with 150m left.
Few could have doubted the Indian runner's credentials. She had set the national record of 15:10.35 in May, but it still didn't look like she had the legs on Tuesday to sprint home with even 30m left. That was when Parul stunned Hironaka by darting through the inner lane while the Japanese turned to her right to see if there were any late challengers.
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