Himachali Of The Year

Rajiv K. Phull

In our endeavour to honour different personalities of Himachal to acknowledge their achievements and contribution to the society, Himachal This Week has chosen different categories of Himachalis. People from this hill state have been performing outstandingly in different fields, both within Himachal and outside the state. As a result, they are not only bringing laurels for Himachal but also contributing towards betterment of the society through their contribution. To select a few Himachalis performing outstandingly was not an easy task  but a panel comprising eminent personalities handled this difficult. Firstly by shortlisting categories and then identifying deserving Himachalis. After gathering information about such personalities, the panel evaluated achievements to select few most distinguished personalities from different categories. In addition, one special category as Himachali of the Year 2017 was also selected. And it was none other than Himachal’s golden girl Seema who has been writing new milestones in athletics in national and international competitions. She also has three national records to her credit in athletics.

Citation: Hailing from a remote village Retta in Chamba district, 16 years old Seema has emerged as ‘golden girl’ for Himachal in athletics. She has not only been winning medals but also breaking records at will in athletics. She has three national athletics records to her credit. Training at SAI Centre in Dharamshala, Himachal’s athletics sensation Seema brings hope for many medals for Himachal and India in athletics.

For her outstanding achievements in athletics in national and international competitions, Himachal This Week confers on her Himachali of the Year Award 2017.

Himachal’s Golden Girl

Hailing from a remote village Retta in Chamba district, 16 years old Seem is breaking records at will in athletics besides winning medals for Himachal and India in different competitions. Seema has three national records to her credit in athletics. A trainee of SAI Hostel, Dharamshala, Seema hails from a poor family but was not deterred of the hurdles and continued her passion. Ready to face any challenge in athletics, Seema is not ready to accept defeat and she she is undergoing intensive training under the watchful eyes of her coach Kehar Singh Patial to achieve new milestones in future. Determined Seema is so dedicated to her career in athletics that she has not touched her mobile phone for nearly six months. Her potential was visible during early days at SAI Centre in Dharamshala. Once bitten by a dog while training at Khaniyara, Seema was not able to run properly. However, she entered the athletics track aftre two weeks and won gold medal in 2000 meters race. After remaining at 9th position in Bahmas Youth Commonwealth Games, she didn’t touch her mobile for eight months. The challenging girls is continuously improving her performance by overcoming her shortcomings. She is destined to achieve glory in national and international athletics championship in coming years. Seema’s coach says that hse is on the right path and can win many more medals if luck also sides with her.

Seema’s Records

* Under-16 junior 2000 metres record of 6:27:13 minute (2016)

* Under-18 youth 3000 metres record of 9:56:00 minutes (2017)

* Under-18 junior 3000 metres record of 9:50:00 minutes (2017)

* Gold medal in junior national athletics championship (2015)

* Bronze medal in Youth Asian Athletics Championship (2017)

* Participation in Youth Commonwealth games (2017)

* Khelo India School Games Gold Medal (2017

‘Improving Very Fast’

Seema’s coach KS Patial says that she is improving very fast and many more medals are expected for Himachal and India in athletics.  Her potential was visible during early days as Seema is fully dedicated to the sports despite hailing from a poor family background, he added. Notably, Seema had won a gold medal in 2000 meter race after she was not bale to train properly following an incident.

-By Naren Kumar/Dharamshala

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