Seema Kumari's Remarkable Journey to Asian Games Bronze Medal

Seema's Discreet Departure for the Asian Games

In a bid to spare her elderly mother from worry, long-distance runner Seema Kumari chose not to inform her about her trip to Japan for the Asian Games. Instead, she decided to leave without mentioning this significant milestone in her career.

Seema, who clinched a surprising bronze in the women's 10,000m event with a time of 32:50.05 seconds, explained that her mother tends to be overly anxious whenever she travels. Over the years, her mother has grown accustomed to Seema's extended training sessions in Bengaluru, which is the narrative Seema left her with before heading to Nagoya.

Read more about Seema's journey from a Himachal village to Asian Games success.

Seema shared, "My father has passed away, and my mother is now 78 years old. I was born when she was 45. She gets very anxious whenever I go out, so I didn’t tell her about my trip to Japan for the Asian Games."

She added, "If she finds out, she won't sleep for a day. My mother has high blood pressure, so I keep her in the dark about my training camps and competitions, only informing my sister."

After discussing her plans with her elder sister, who likely informed their mother after Seema's medal win, Seema set off for Nagoya.

At 25, Seema hails from Reta village in Himachal Pradesh's Chamba district and made history by becoming only the third Indian woman to medal in the 10,000m race at the Asian Games, following Preeja Sreedharan and Kavita Raut's achievements in 2010.

When asked if her mother is aware of her location now, Seema replied, "She might have found out from my sister; they could be watching me on TV. Otherwise, she probably thinks I’m still in Bengaluru at the SAI Center."

Seema, the youngest of six siblings, lost her father when she was just 12. She grew up running barefoot and tending to cattle, with her mother supporting her athletic aspirations despite community disapproval.

"This is my first Asian Games, and I am proud to have won a bronze medal, fulfilling my dream," she expressed.

Reflecting on the race, she noted that all competitors were focused on winning medals rather than achieving specific times.

"The race was tactical. Everyone was in it for the medal. I aimed for gold, but I ended up with bronze. I’m pleased, but my next event is the 5000m on September 28, and I will strive to improve my medal color," said Seema, who previously secured a silver at the World University Games last year.

Regarding her training for the Asian Games, she mentioned, "I trained under Scott Simon. We practice alongside Olympic champions, which has greatly enhanced our performance and mental strength. We share the mindset that we can compete with the best."