Asian Games 2026: Seema Kumari wins 10,000m bronze to end India’s 16-year wait for a medal

India’s long wait for a medal in the women’s 10,000m at the Asian Games is finally over. Seema Kumari produced a superb ride in the final on Thursday to win the bronze and end a 16-year drought.

Seema clocked 32:50.05 to finish third in a hard-fought race to secure only India’s third ever women’s 10,000m medal at the Asian Games.

Bahrain’s Winfred Yavi won gold in 32:39.18, while Japan’s Nozomi Tanaka took silver in 32:41.54.

Yavi and Tanaka fought a tense battle for the top spot in the final stages, with Bahrain eventually taking the lead. Meanwhile, Seema held her nerve to avoid 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. Indian athletics also claimed its first podium finish at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games.

SEEMA HOLDS HER NERVES

The race was always going to be a test of patience and endurance and Seema stayed firmly in contention as the front runners began to separate from the field.

Yavi and Tanaka eventually emerged as the two athletes fighting for the gold, turning the final stages into a battle of speed and endurance.

Seema could not match the pace of the leading duo but did enough during the race to secure a strong position for bronze. She continued to push to the finish line and clocked 32:50.05 to secure India a memorable medal.

WOMEN’S 10,000 M FINAL RESULTS

Winfred Yavi (Bahrain) – 32:39.18
Nozomi Tanaka (Japan) – 32:41.54
Seema Kumari (India) – 32:50.05

WHO IS SEEMA?

Seema Kumari, born on 10 January 2001 in Himachal Pradesh, is a long-distance runner who has excelled in the Indian 5000m and 10000m events.

Her rise has been built on consistent performances at both distances. She won gold in the senior women’s race at the 2024 Asian Cross Country Championships in Hong Kong and won silver in the 5000 meters 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, at The TEN in California, she ran a personal best of 32:02.43 in the 10,000 and finished fifth in a strong international field. A month later, she set another personal best in the 5000m, clocking 15:16.20.

Seema has been part of the Khelo India program since July 2018 and has received support for training at the National Coaching Camp ahead of the 2026 Asian Games.

She also received financial support from the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) and the Annual Training and Competition Calendar (ACTC).

Now 25, Seema has added an Asian Games bronze to her growing list of achievements and established herself as one of India’s leading long-distance runners.

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