Nagoya: Ending a 16-year wait for a medal in the long-distance track event, Indian athlete Seema Kumari etched her name in history by winning a bronze medal in the Women’s 10,000-metre race at the 2026 Asian Games on Thursday.
Competing at the Mizuho Park Athletic Stadium, Seema clocked a timing of 32:50.05 seconds to secure the third position in a fiercely contested final. The gold medal went to Bahrain’s Winfred Yavi, who dominated the track with a blistering finish of 32:39.18 seconds. Japan’s Nozomi Tanaka claimed the silver medal, crossing the finish line in 32:41.54 seconds.
Seema’s bronze marks a significant milestone for Indian athletics, as she becomes only the third Indian woman to win a medal in this specific event at the Asian Games. India last tasted success in the 10,000-metre race during the 2010 edition, where Preeja Sreedharan clinched the gold and Kavita Raut secured the silver.
The race tested both endurance and tactical brilliance. Seema started strong, leading the pack in the initial phase and covering the first 2,000 metres in just 6:36.13 seconds. However, as the race progressed, she briefly lost her momentum and slipped to the fourth position, threatening her chances of a podium finish. Displaying immense grit and stamina, Seema staged a phenomenal comeback in the final 1,000 metres. Holding off a stiff challenge from Kazakhstan’s Daisy Jepkemei, the Indian runner surged ahead into the top three to claim the bronze.
Celebrating the historic win, the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) posted on X (formerly Twitter): “BRONZE FOR INDIA! Seema wins bronze in the Women’s 10,000m at the #AsianGames2026! She led the early kilometres, stayed with the leaders through a tactical race and held off Kazakhstan’s Daisy Jepkemei for the podium. Flag high, heart full.”
Seema’s gritty performance secured India’s 16th medal at the ongoing continental multi-sport event. Shortly after her triumph, the Indian 4×400-metre relay team added a silver to the tally, bringing the nation’s total to 17 medals. Currently, India stands 15th on the overall medal table, with the solitary gold so far secured by the Indian women’s cricket team.