From Chamba to the Asian Games podium: Bank of India’s Seema Kumari brings home bronze

For a young Seema Kumari, even a pair of proper running shoes was difficult to come by. Years later, the girl from Reta village in Himachal Pradesh’s Chamba district has given India an Asian Games medal to celebrate.

Seema won bronze in the women’s 10,000m at the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, finishing in 32:50.05 on September 24. The result ended India’s 16-year wait for a medal in the event, with Preeja Sreedharan and Kavita Raut having won gold and silver respectively in 2010.

For Bank of India, where Seema is an employee, there is an added reason to celebrate. One of their own has earned a place on the podium while representing the country at one of Asia’s biggest sporting events.

The bronze came against strong opposition. Bahrain’s Winfred Yavi took gold, while Japan’s Nozomi Tanaka finished second. Seema had to work her way back into contention during the closing stages, eventually securing a result that ranks among the biggest achievements of her career.

Seema Kumari’s journey from village races to representing India

Seema’s introduction to athletics came through school competitions. There were no easy routes forward. She lost her father at the age of 12, and her family relied largely on farming and cattle rearing. Pursuing running meant finding ways to continue despite limited resources.

Her performances gradually took her from school races to district and state competitions. In 2015, selection for the Sports Authority of India hostel in Dharamsala gave her access to structured coaching and better facilities. A gold medal at the Junior National Athletics Championships in Ranchi that year offered an early indication of what she could achieve.

The results kept coming as she moved through the ranks. Seema won bronze in the 3,000m at the 2017 Asian U18 Championships and later claimed gold at the 2024 Asian Cross Country Championships in Hong Kong. Each competition gave her more experience before the challenge in Japan.

Her Asian Games medal also brings attention to the importance of employment for athletes. A sporting career requires years of commitment, often with little certainty about the next result. Having a professional identity alongside that pursuit matters, particularly for athletes who have grown up with financial constraints.

Seema’s association with Bank of India gives the campaign a personal connection to her achievement. For colleagues watching her represent India, the result offers a moment of shared pride. For young runners following her journey, there is encouragement in seeing someone from a small village reach this level.

India’s wait for a medal in the event is over. Seema has an Asian Games bronze, and the years she spent working towards this opportunity have delivered a result worth celebrating.

This is a sponsored post for Bank of India