Himachal Pradesh’s star runner Seema, who lost her father at the age of 12, has once again made the state proud with a major achievement on the national stage. At the Tata Steel World 25K Kolkata, Seema clocked 1:26:04, set a new record, and finished 10th overall among top International runners.
The performance marked the biggest breakthrough of her career and underlined her steady rise in Indian women’s distance running.
Seema comes from Chamba, where her life changed early after the death of her father. The loss brought financial and personal challenges for the family. As a child, she helped her household by herding cattle and spent long hours walking and running in the hills. With no proper training and facilities nearby, she trained on rough roads and mountain paths, often barefoot. But her mother always stood by her and played a key role in keeping her focused on athletics.
The Tata Steel World 25K which was first held in 2014, is among the country’s most established road races and is known for its fast course and high competition level. Over the years, the event has become an important platform for Indian runners to test themselves and push performance standards. Seema’s timing now stands among the best recorded by an Indian woman at the event.
Earlier this year, Seema made the whole nation proud by winning a silver medal at the World University Games and the Kolkata race turned that progress into a record-setting result.
During the race, Seema maintained a controlled pace and finished strongly, a strategy that helped her deliver the fastest time of her career.
From running barefoot in the hills of Chamba to setting a record on the streets of Kolkata, Seema’s journey reflects consistent hard work and resilience.
Her achievement stands as a moment of pride for Himachal Pradesh and a clear example for young athletes from small towns who aim to succeed despite limited resources.
