Himachal Pradesh's Seema Shatters National Record at Kolkata Marathon

Seema's Historic Victory at Tata Steel World Kolkata 25K

Shimla (Himachal Pradesh) [India], December 22: Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu extended his congratulations to Seema for her outstanding achievement in clinching the gold medal at the Tata Steel World Kolkata 25K marathon held in Kolkata.

Hailing from Reta village in Chamba district, Seema not only won the race but also established a new national record in the 25,000-meter event. The Chief Minister emphasized that Seema's success has brought pride to the state on a national platform, inspiring many aspiring athletes throughout India.

In the Indian elite women's category, Seema showcased her prowess with a remarkable performance, finishing the race in 1:26:04, which surpassed the previous Indian course record of 1:26:53 set by Suriya L in 2017. Her victory margin was significant, with Sanjivani Jhadav coming in second at 1:30:34, over four minutes behind, and Nirmaben Thakor finishing third in 1:32:02. Seema appeared composed at the finish line, indicating her excellent preparation and tactical advantage.

From the start, Seema raced ahead of her competitors. By the 10 km mark, she had already established a one-minute lead over Sanjivani, which increased to a minute and a half by 15 km, over two minutes by 20 km, and three minutes by the halfway point of 21.1 km. She maintained her lead effortlessly, crossing the finish line and breaking an eight-year-old course record.

Reflecting on her race experience, Seema remarked, “The course has been modified, making it more challenging. However, I approached this event with a winning mindset. I am thrilled to have set a new course record, but I believe I could have performed even better on the previous course. Winning requires immense discipline and sacrifice, which I have committed to as an athlete. My next goal is to qualify for the Asian and Commonwealth Games next year.”