16-year wait ends! Seema Kumari wins bronze in women's 10,000m at Asian Games
India's long wait for a medal in the women's 10,000m at the Asian Games is finally over. Seema Kumari delivered a superb run in the final on Thursday to win bronze and end a 16-year drought in the event.
Seema clocked 32:50.05 to finish third in a fiercely contested race, securing only India's third-ever medal in the women's 10,000m at the Asian Games.
Bahrain's Winfred Yavi won gold in 32:39.18, while Japan's Nozomi Tanaka took silver with a time of 32:41.54.
Yavi and Tanaka fought a thrilling battle for the top spot in the closing stages, with the Bahraini eventually edging ahead. Seema, meanwhile, held her nerve to stay clear of the chasing pack and secure India's place on the podium.
Her bronze marks India's first medal in the women's 10,000m at the Asian Games since 2010. It also gives Indian athletics its first podium finish at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games.SEEMA HOLDS HER NERVE
The race was always going to test patience and endurance, and Seema stayed firmly in contention as the leading runners began to separate themselves from the field.
Yavi and Tanaka eventually emerged as the two athletes fighting for gold, turning the final stages into a battle of speed and stamina.
Seema could not match the pace of the leading duo but had done enough throughout the race to put herself in a strong position for bronze. She continued to push until the finish line and crossed in 32:50.05 to secure a memorable medal for India.WOMEN'S 10,000M FINAL RESULTS
Winfred Yavi (Bahrain) - 32:39.18Nozomi Tanaka (Japan) - 32:41.54Seema Kumari (India) - 32:50.05WHO IS SEEMA?
Born on January 10, 2001, in Himachal Pradesh, Seema Kumari is a long-distance runner who has established herself in India's 5,000m and 10,000m events.
Her rise has been built on consistent performances across both distances. She won gold in the senior women's race at the 2024 Asian Cross Country Championships in Hong Kong before claiming silver in the 5,000m at the 2025 FISU World University Games.
In 2026, Seema continued her progress by winning gold in the 10,000m at the 65th National Inter-State Senior Athletics Championships.
She also raised the bar in both events this year. In March, she clocked a personal best of 32:02.43 in the 10,000m at The TEN in California, finishing fifth in a strong international field. A month later, she set another personal best in the 5,000m, recording 15:16.20.
Seema has been part of the Khelo India programme since July 2018 and received support for training at the National Coaching Camp ahead of the 2026 Asian Games.
She has also received financial support under the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) and the Annual Calendar for Training and Competition (ACTC).
At 25, Seema has now added an Asian Games bronze to her growing list of achievements and established herself as one of India's leading long-distance runners.- Ends
