Without her mother knowing, Seema from India traveled to Japan and won a bronze medal in the 10,000-meter race at the Asian Games, creating a sensation.
The 20th edition of the Asian Games is being held in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. Athletes from India have been delivering excellent performances. Around 11,000 athletes from 45 countries, including India, Japan, China, South Korea, and Thailand, are participating in this event.
In the current Asian Games, Seema Kumari won India’s first medal in athletics by taking bronze in the women’s 10,000-meter race. She completed the race in 32 minutes and 50.05 seconds to finish in third place.
Bahrain’s Winfred Yavi won gold, and Japan’s Nozomi Tanaka won silver. While the fact that India has won a medal in this category after 16 years has brought great joy, Seema Kumari has shared the interesting story behind winning the bronze medal.
Seema Kumari, 25, from Reta village in Chamba district of Himachal Pradesh, lost her father when she was 12 years old.
Growing up in poverty, she began her running practice as a child by running barefoot and herding cattle. Seema Kumari, who participated in the Asian Games for the first time, has brought pride to the nation by winning her first medal.
Speaking about this, Seema Kumari said, “My father is no longer alive. My mother is alive. But she is 78 years old. I was born when she was 45 years old.
Whenever I go out, he gets anxious. So I didn’t tell him that I would be going to Japan for the Asian Games. If he finds out, he won’t be able to sleep peacefully. He has high blood pressure. So whenever I go to a training camp or competitions, I don’t tell her much.
I have an elder sister. She is about 45 years old. There are six people in our family. I am the youngest child. If I go out, I only tell my sister.
She must know that I have won a medal now. She must be watching it on television now.
My next event, the 5,000-meter race, is scheduled to take place on Sept. 28. I will definitely try to win the gold medal,” she said.