Indian long-distance runner Seema etched her name into the record books on Saturday as she became the first Indian woman to win a medal in the 5000m event at the World University Games. Her silver medal triumph came as a moment of personal and national redemption following her forced withdrawal from the 10,000m event due to alleged official negligence.
Seema clocked a season-best 15:35.86, the second-fastest time of her career, to finish second in a fiercely contested final, marking her maiden medal at the senior level.
The Indian contingent, currently competing in the World University Games in Germany’s Rhine-Ruhr region, has seen its campaign marred by a string of avoidable administrative lapses, particularly impacting athletes’ participation. But Seema’s breakthrough offered a silver lining.
Negligence overshadows early events
Seema’s name was reportedly excluded from the start list of the 10,000 m event, an opportunity she had prepared for, owing to a bureaucratic mishap. Despite the setback, she displayed composure and resilience to secure India’s first-ever podium in the women’s 5000 m race at the university-level championships.
She was not the only athlete caught in the chaos. Devyani Bazala, a quarter-miler, was denied entry into her 400m event under similar circumstances. According to Devyani, “her name went missing due to a late alteration by officials in submitting the confirmation list.” Although she had been included in the initial team, her name vanished from the start list by the time she arrived at the competition venue.
The lapses have since prompted widespread criticism, with questions being raised over the accountability of officials overseeing the Indian contingent.
Administrative fallout
The fallout from the mismanagement saw the suspension of Baljit Singh Sekhon, Joint Secretary of the Athletics Federation of India (AFI), who faced disciplinary action for his role in the oversight. The suspension comes as pressure mounts for a thorough audit into the administrative failings that cost multiple athletes their shot at international competition.
Archery and triple jump bring medals
While the track and field segment has faced its share of turbulence, Indian archers capped off their campaign in style, securing a total of five medals. The compound team delivered standout performances, winning mixed team gold, men’s team silver, and women’s team bronze. Individual events saw Jadhav clinch gold while Parneet added a silver to India’s tally.
Meanwhile, 24-year-old Praveen Chithravel claimed silver in the men’s triple jump. His best effort of 16.66 metres came on his second attempt and was enough to earn India another podium finish.
Despite challenges behind the scenes, Indian athletes have managed to post commendable performances across multiple disciplines at the ongoing Games. However, the administrative shortcomings have cast a shadow over what could have been a more successful campaign.
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