Seema Jaswal is currently one of the UK’s most in-demand sports presenters (Image: Getty)
Seema Jaswal has enjoyed a whirlwind rise on her way to becoming one of the UK’s biggest sports presenters. The Richmond-born star is currently on fans’ television screens covering the as part of her gig with the , where she covers Triple Crown events.
Jaswal, whose parents fled Uganda before making the UK their home, has come a long way since landing her first TV job on CBBC’s Sports Round and Match of the Day Kickabout. Now, the 39-year-old is known for roles across a variety of sports, including football, motorsport on ITV and BDO on Channel 4.
Her real career turning point came in 2015 when she was asked to present the Indian Super League. And perhaps her biggest accomplishment is, in Jaswal’s own words, completing broadcasting’s ‘quadruple’, which involved hosting coverage of the , the , the World Cup and the in the space of 12 months.
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Apology note to husband
Jaswal cited working on the Champions League as a life-long dream, which she was given the opportunity to fulfil by BT Sport – now TNT Sports – at the start of the 2021/22 season. But while it was a huge step in her career, that meant she could no longer carry on her tradition of watching big European clashes alongside her dad and her husband of nearly 14 years, Ajay.
Recalling how she cheekily left an apology note for her husband, who works in property, Jaswal said: “The Champions League was definitely one on the tick-list. I always loved watching it as a fan with my husband, my father and a takeaway, but little did I know that three would soon become two.
“We actually bought my dad a TV recently and I left a post-it note which read ‘Sorry I won’t be with you this season, but at least you’ll be able to watch me on the telly’. It was a lovely and very surreal moment.”
Best friend in broadcasting
She would love to go to the pub with Tim Sherwood (Image: Getty)
Seema currently hosts the ’s global coverage for Productions, including Match-Day Live, Kick Off and Fanzone. Unsurprisingly, she has rubbed shoulders with some of the biggest pundits and former players in the business – but her favourite colleague is none other than former Spurs and Blackburn Rovers midfielder Tim Sherwood.
She explained: “I’ve never worked with a bad pundit. They’ve all been gems and really supportive. But there is one I have to give a special mention to – and it’s Tim Sherwood.
“He just has me in stitches, and always has everyone on the floor laughing. He’s a great one to have in the studio and is so much fun. He’d be perfect to play golf and go to the pub with.”
Robbery horror
Seema Jaswal battled meningitis as a teen (Image: Getty)
Jaswal, who began as a runner on Sky Sports News, has a penchant for buying luxury clothes. She admitted how, in 2017, she bought a hat for Royal Ascot from John Lewis for around £400.
As a means of justifying the purchase, she approached a hat hire store, which offered to rent out her hat with £50 offered for each day. Unfortunately, she had only received a £50 cheque after six months.
Seema’s struggles with clothing accessories also extend to handbags, having revealed: “Ever since I had my bag stolen in London a few years ago I barely carry cash. I had £200 in there and I’d left my bag on a chair on a coffee shop. I have about £15 and some coins now.”
Charity ambassador
Jaswal at the age of 16 suffered the misfortune of contracting bacterial meningitis. Her mum spotted the warning signs – a severe headache and sensitivity to light – and she was rushed to hospital, where she only had to remain for ten days due to her body’s strength from playing various sports.
She has been lucky enough to make a full recovery and live her life without serious consequences, such as blindness. But Jaswal hopes that sharing her own experiences with the Meningitis Research Foundation will help others.
In 2019, she backed Meningitis Now’s campaign, using her own story as a way to encourage young people, and parents of school-age children, to ensure they are protected against the disease with the . She still maintains an active role in helping raise awareness of the disease.