Historic Silver Medal Win for Indian Athlete Seema at World University Games

Seema's Remarkable Achievement in Athletics

Subhash Mahajan
Chamba

In a significant milestone for Indian athletics, Seema, a talented runner from Reta village in Chamba district, Himachal Pradesh, secured the silver medal in the women's 5000m final at the 2025 World University Games held in Rhine-Ruhr, Germany. This achievement is historic as she becomes the first Indian woman to earn a medal in this event at such a prestigious international university competition.

Although she was unable to compete in the 10,000m final due to an administrative error by Indian officials, who did not confirm her entry in time, Seema demonstrated incredible resilience. She achieved a season-best time of 15:35.86, marking her second-fastest performance to clinch the silver medal.

Her race showcased exceptional strategy and determination. In a competitive field of international athletes, Seema made a strong push in the final lap, narrowly missing the gold medal to France’s Julia David-Smith, who finished with a time of 15:34.57.

This medal represents not only a personal victory for Seema but also a moment of pride for India and Himachal Pradesh. It underscores the pressing need for improved administrative support for athletes representing the nation on global stages.