India’s Prachi Choudhary eyes Uttar Pradesh DSP post after winning Asian Games 4x400m relay gold, revealing she had already given police uniform measurements before leaving for Nagoya, fulfilling a long-cherished dream under the state sports policy.
Indian quarter-miler Prachi Choudhary carried a singular, resolute conviction when she stepped onto the track at the Asian Games in Nagoya: she was not merely running for continental glory, but also to secure her dream job as a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) under Uttar Pradesh’s progressive sports policy.
Following a sensational performance where she anchored India’s triumph in the women’s 4x400m relay on Tuesday, the 29-year-old sprinter disclosed that her confidence was so unyielding that she had already submitted her physical measurements for a customized police uniform before departing Indian shores for Japan.
Prachi, who had previously settled for a silver medal at the continental meet, explained that the near-miss had spurred a relentless drive to upgrade to gold. Under the athlete-welfare provisions spearheaded by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, international gold medallists are directly eligible for recruitment into the elite provincial police service as Deputy Superintendents.
“Last year I won a silver medal at the Asian Games, so I could not become a DSP. Our Chief Minister Shri Yogi Adityanath has a sports policy under which gold medallists are made DSPs. So, when it did not happen last year, I felt bad. I decided then that I would come to the next Asian Games and definitely win gold, no matter what,” Prachi told IANS in the mixed zone following the medal ceremony.
Her absolute self-belief was mirrored in her practical preparations at home prior to the competition. “I had already given my measurements for the uniform at home before coming here. I told them that by the time I return, the stitched uniform should be ready because I want to wear it. After this medal, many things will happen. One of my dreams, becoming a DSP, will be fulfilled. I have had that dream for a long time,” she said with a beam of pride.
On the track, India’s dynamic quartet demonstrated supreme tactical mastery and cohesion. The team—comprising Kiran Pahal, veteran runner M.R. Poovamma, Prachi Choudhary, and Vithya Ramraj—clocked a commanding 3:29.69 to take top honours. They fended off fierce opposition from regional powerhouses Bahrain, who claimed silver in 3:30.21, and host rivals China, who finished third in 3:31.02.
Prachi, running the critical third leg before handing the baton over to anchor Vithya, emphasized that the unit ran with total clarity of purpose. “We all four were saying the same thing in the team, that we had to win gold, whatever happened. We had to support each other and give the baton exchanges with as much lead as possible. That was what was going through our minds,” she noted.
Having previously picked up an individual bronze medal in the open 400m discipline earlier in the meet, Prachi noted that standing atop the podium carried emotional resonance that transcended administrative rewards.
“I will go home and show it to my father. He will be very happy, my mother will be very happy, and they will be proud of me. My biggest thing is that my family should be proud of me,” she remarked. “If other young children and girls see me and feel that if I can do it, they can do it too, it will give them a boost. When I was young and started sports, I also saw athletes going abroad and the national anthem being played. That feeling is different. You get goosebumps when the anthem plays.”
She expressed deep gratitude toward institutional backers who fueled her campaign, giving credit to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, the Sports Authority of India (SAI), the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS), and the Athletics Federation of India (AFI), reserving special appreciation for AFI administrator Lalit Bhanot.
“Look, our government is supporting us a lot. Narendra Modi ji… I don’t think any previous Prime Minister has interacted with athletes this much, motivating them and encouraging them personally. He has done a great deal for sports. Ever since his government came into power, our sports sector has continued to rise and improve,” she observed.
Speaking on regional infrastructure, she added: “Our Chief Minister, Yogi Adityanath ji, has completely transformed sports in Uttar Pradesh. It has reached such a level that, in the coming years, you will see many world-class elite athletes emerging from Uttar Pradesh.”
Her pre-race pep talks also kept her laser-focused. “I would also like to sincerely thank the Athletics Federation of India, especially Lalit Bhanot, sir. Before my individual race, he motivated me immensely. He had a meeting with me and told me that I had to come back with a medal. Even today, he tells me that whatever we need or whatever has to be done, the goal is to bring home the gold medal. I am very grateful to him, TOPS, SAI, and our government for supporting us in every possible way.”
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Despite checking off her ambition of wearing police khaki, Prachi stressed that her track journey is far from over. “I did well here, so I want to do even better in the coming years. I achieved my personal best this year, and I do not want to stop now. There are many events ahead: the Asian Championships, World Championships and then the Olympics. I have to keep moving forward.”
