Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised distance runner Seema Kumari on Thursday after she won bronze in the women’s 10,000m at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games 2026.
Her podium finish brought India its first medal in the event in 16 years.
The Prime Minister’s Office shared PM Modi’s message, in which he said, “Proud of Seema for winning the Bronze Medal in the Women’s 10,000m at the Asian Games! Congrats to her. Her determined performance has brought India a medal in this event after many years. A wonderful achievement that reflects endurance, discipline and years of hard work,”
Proud of Seema on winning the Bronze Medal in the Women’s 10,000m at the Asian Games! Congrats to her.
Her determined performance has brought India a medal in this event after many years. A wonderful achievement that reflects endurance, discipline and years of hard work.…
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) September 24, 2026
He also conveyed his good wishes, saying, “Wishing her many more successes in the times ahead.”
Seema completed the race in 32:50.05 at Mizuho Park Athletic Stadium, finishing behind Bahrain’s Winfred Yavi and Japan’s Nozomi Tanaka. Yavi secured gold in 32:39.18, while Tanaka took silver with a time of 32:41.54.
Seema set the early pace and led the pack across the first 2,000m. She covered the opening 1,000m in 3:18.12 and reached the 2,000m point in 6:36.13.
The Indian slipped to fourth as the race accelerated, but she remained close to the front. With 1,000m left, she moved back into third and defended that position until the finish.
Yavi crossed the line 10.87 seconds ahead of Seema. Kazakhstan’s Daisy Jepkemei finished fourth in 33:03.21, over 13 seconds behind the Indian athlete.
Seema’s bronze made her the third Indian woman to win an Asian Games medal in the 10,000m. Preeja Sreedharan took gold in 2010, and Kavita Raut won silver at that edition.
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