On a day when Indian athletics needed a spark, 24-year-old Seema delivered a performance that will echo for years.
At the World University Games 2025, Seema stormed to a sensational silver medal in the women’s 5000m final, clocking 15:35.86 her second fastest time ever and a new season’s best.
This remarkable feat not only earned India its second medal in athletics at these Games but also marked one of the rare times an Indian distance runner has reached the global podium in a long-distance track event. In a packed field and under immense pressure, Seema’s determination and tactical brilliance shone through, reaffirming her status as one of India’s brightest distance running talents.
A Race Defined by Grit and Strategy
The final was always expected to be tough. Running against a field of ten strong athletes, Seema stayed composed and tucked in with the lead pack. As the laps unfolded, the pace began to pick up. With around 450m to go, Seema made her decisive move: surging ahead to match the breakaway leader, France’s Julia David-Smith.
While David-Smith narrowly held on for gold with a personal best of 15:34.57, Seema stayed resolute, never letting the gap widen beyond a stride. In the final straight, she maintained her pace superbly to cross the line in 15:35.86, comfortably ahead of Britain’s Emily Jane Parker, who finished third in 15:36.12.
Seema’s run was not just about endurance but also about courage and race intelligence knowing exactly when to hold, when to chase, and how to fend off challenges in the closing stages.
Reward for Consistency and Resilience
This silver medal is a testament to Seema’s consistent rise over the past year. She had already shown her form at the Federation Cup 2025, winning silver in the same event. In recent months, her exposure in competitions across the USA helped fine-tune her tactics and sharpen her speed endurance evident in the way she handled the final laps in Bochum.
Clocking 15:35.86 just shy of her personal best Seema reaffirmed that she belongs among the best on the university circuit and beyond. For Indian athletics, often dominated by sprinters and jumpers on the international stage, this medal was a moment of rare triumph in distance running.
From Heartbreak to Heroics
Seema’s medal is all the more special considering the adversity she faced off the track. She was denied the chance to compete in the women’s 10,000m final at the World University Games due to what she described as an official blunder a failure by team officials to submit her entry in time.
Her season’s best of 32:14.66 would have been the fourth fastest among the 28 athletes who competed, making her a genuine medal contender in that event too. For any athlete, such a missed opportunity can be mentally crushing. But Seema channeled that frustration into motivation and produced one of her career’s best races just days later.
This resilience underlines why her silver isn’t just a medal: it’s a story of refusing to be held back by circumstances beyond her control.
A Moment of History for Indian Distance Running
In recent decades, Indian track and field medals on the global stage have largely come from jumps, throws, or sprints. Long-distance runners have often struggled to break into finals, let alone the podium. Seema’s silver changes that narrative.
It is hard to recall an Indian distance runner winning a medal at a global multi-sport university event like this. The fact that she achieved it against European distance specialists, who traditionally dominate these events, makes it even more remarkable.
For Indian athletics fans, it was not just a medal but a breakthrough proof that with the right support and exposure, Indian distance runners can challenge the best.
Seema’s medal has bigger implications too. With the Asian Games 2026 in Japan and World Championships in the coming seasons, this performance boosts her confidence and raises expectations. Her ability to clock sub-15:40 times consistently shows she’s ready to compete beyond the university level.
It also draws attention to the need for better administrative support: had Seema been allowed to run the 10,000m, India might have celebrated two medals instead of one. Sports governance must now keep pace with the rising performance standards of Indian athletes.
A Moment to Remember
In summary, the women’s 5000m final at #WUG2025 was more than just another race. It was a story of:
- A young athlete refusing to let disappointment define her.
- Racing with tactical brilliance and fearless finishing.
- Bringing back a medal from an event where few Indians have ever reached the podium.
Seema’s silver is not just hers it is a medal for every Indian distance runner who dreams of competing at the world level, and for every fan who believed Indian distance running could shine on a global stage.
🇮🇳 Congratulations, Seema! You made history.
👏🥈 #IndianAthletics #WUG2025 #ProudMoment #Seema #5000m
