Seema Kumari won a bronze medal in the women’s 10,000m at the Asian Games on Thursday, ending India’s wait for a medal in the event since 2010. She clocked 32:50.05 in the final to finish third. With this the total medal count of the Indian contingent stood at 16.
Bahrain’s Winfred Yabhi finished first with a timing of 32:39.18, while Japan’s Nozomi Tanaka took the silver medal after clocking 32:41.54.
Seema’s bronze at the Aichi Nagoya this year at the event marks the first Indian medal in the women’s 10,000 meters since 2010. It has also given the Indian athletics its first podium finish this year.
Seema entered the season with his best of 32.02 seconds and remained in the first eight laps. By the tenth lap, she shifted to the fifth place. As the race neared its ending, Kumari entered the top three athletes, maintaining her position.
Earlier India won silver in the mixed 4×400 meters relay after the quartet of Manu Thiyes, Puvamma M.R., Vishal T.K. and Vithya Ramraj clocked 3:14.46. It’s not all good for everyone at the event on day five, as a few Indian athletes also faced heartbreaks. India’s Asha Longa not only missed on the podium finish in the women’s triple jump, finishing fourth with the best effort of 13.83 meters. compatriot Niharika Vashisht finished tenth with the best effort of 13 meters and was eliminated after three attempts. Anamaka K. finished eighth overall in the 200 meters with a time of 25.96, earning 801 points, while Puja finished ninth in 26.27, picking up 1,774 points. India’s women’s team defeated the hosts 50-25 in their final group A match to finish top of the standings and qualify for the semifinals. The defending champions, who staged a perfect campaign, won all the three matches. They will now face Nepal in the semifinale tomorrow.
Athlete Animesh Kujer finished third in his heat in 10.36 for the 100 meters, while Gurinderveer Singh was second in his heat after clocking 10.38 meters, as both the men qualified for the semi-final.