Aichi-Nagoya: Seema marked her Asian Games debut with a bronze medal in the women’s 10,000m on Thursday, clocking 32:50.05 to end India’s 16-year wait for a medal in the event at the continental Games.

The 25-year-old from Reta village in Himachal Pradesh’s Chamba district produced a determined performance over the gruelling 25-lap race to finish on the podium in her first Asian Games appearance.

From Reta Village to the Asian Games Podium

For Seema, the medal is the latest milestone in a journey that has taken her from a small village in Himachal Pradesh to the international athletics circuit.

She comes from a farming family and lost her father when she was young. Her athletics journey began through the SAI scheme in Dharamshala in 2015, giving her an opportunity to develop as a distance runner and compete at higher levels.

Over the years, Seema has built a strong record in long-distance running.

She won the women’s 10,000m at the 2023 National Games, followed by gold at the 2024 Asian Cross Country Championships. She also claimed silver at the 2025 World University Games, further establishing herself as one of India’s leading distance runners.

Seema Builds Towards Asian Games Debut

Her progress continued in 2026, with her 10,000m personal best standing at 32:02.43 before the Asian Games.

The competition in Aichi-Nagoya, however, presented a different challenge. Racing against some of Asia’s leading distance runners, Seema had to maintain her pace over 10,000m while managing the physical demands of one of athletics’ most demanding events.

She stayed in contention throughout the race and eventually crossed the finish line in 32:50.05 to secure bronze.

The result brought India back onto the women’s 10,000m podium at the Asian Games after a 16-year gap.

A Major Milestone for Indian Distance Running

The medal adds another significant achievement to a career built through steady progression.

From training in Dharamshala as a teenager to winning national and continental titles, Seema has gradually established herself on the Indian athletics scene.

Her Asian Games debut has now added an important international milestone to that journey.

The 32:50.05 was slower than her personal best, but it was enough to secure third place on the day in one of the most demanding events on the athletics programme.

For Indian distance running, the bronze is significant not only because of the long wait but also because Seema reached the podium at her first Asian Games.

For Seema, the journey from Reta village to the Asian Games podium has taken more than a decade of training, competition and persistence.

On Thursday, that journey produced her biggest medal yet — Asian Games bronze.