Seema Kumari wins bronze, India's 1st medal in women's 10,000m after 16 years in Asian Games

India's Seema Kumari scripted history as she won a bronze medal in the women's 10,000m race in Asian Games 2026 on September 24. Seema clocked 32:50.05 to bag bronze, finishing ahead of Kazakhstan's Daisy Jepkemei who delivered her season best 33:03.21. 

Bahrain's Winfred Yavi clinched the gold medal clocking 32:39.18. Hosts Japan's Nozomi Tanaka secured a silver medal by finishing the race in 32:41.54.

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Seema maintained good pace and stayed among the leaders for most of the race. The 25-year-old was fourth in the pack of five with 2,000m to go. But, with few laps to go, Seema picked up pace and maintained good lead over Daisy. But, Winfred and Nozomi's burst towards the end helped them finish ahead of Seema.

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Seema joins rare list

This is India's first medal in women's 10,000m event in Asian Games since 2010. In the Guangzhou edition, Preeja Sreedharan and Kavita Raut scripted history with a gold and silver medal respectively. 

Seema adds Asian Games bronze to her kitty

The Chamba-born (Himachal Pradesh) long-distance runner has made her name in 5,000 and 10,000m events. The 17-year-old had won the 3,000m race in the Khelo India School Games despite falling down in the fourth lap. 

Her first came in the 2024 Asian Cross Country Championships in Hong Kong. In 2025, she won a silver in 5,000m event at the 2026 FISU World University Games. 

Earlier this year, she won the gold in 10,000m at 65th National Inter-State Senior Athletics Championships. She finished fifth at The Ten in California in March 2026 but registered her personal best of 32:02.43. Then, she achieved her personal best of 15:16.20 in the 5,000m event as well. 

India's medals tally 

Seema bagged India's ninth bronze medal at the event. So far, India have claimed 17 medals including one gold and seven silver. India are ranked 15th in the medals tally.