Paralympics 2024: Who is Hokato Sema, the landmine survivor who clinches Bronze in Shot Put
Xtra Time Web Desk: Indian shot-putter Hokato Sema delivered a career-best throw of 14.65 meters to secure a bronze medal in the men’s F57 category at the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris. The 40-year-old, hailing from Dimapur, Nagaland, improved upon his previous best of 14.49m to clinch third place.
Sema, a landmine blast survivor who lost his left leg during an anti-terror operation in Jammu & Kashmir in 2002, has been a consistent performer. After a modest start of 13.88m, he gradually improved, hitting 14.40m before achieving his personal best in the fourth round.
???????????? MEDAL NO. 27! Hokato Sema wins the bronze medal with a 14.65m throw in the Men's Shot Put F57 event.
— The Bharat Army (@thebharatarmy) September 6, 2024
???? Pics belong to the respective owners • #HokatoSema #Athletics #ParaAthletics #Paris2024 #Paralympics #TeamIndia #BharatArmy #COTI???????? pic.twitter.com/lAma0tURLF
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Iran's Yasin Khosravi won gold with a record-breaking throw of 15.96m, while Brazil’s Thiago Dos Santos took silver with 15.06m. Sema's journey in para-athletics began in 2016 when a senior army officer at the Pune-based Artificial Limb Centre noticed his resilience and fitness. Encouraged to try shot put, Sema took up the sport at the age of 32, quickly making his mark by competing in the National Para Athletics Championships the same year.
Despite his late entry into the sport, Sema has proven his mettle on numerous occasions. His bronze medal at the Paris Paralympics adds to his bronze at the 2022 Hangzhou Para Games. His perseverance and passion for the sport have made him an inspiration to many, proving that adversity can be transformed into triumph.
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With India’s Paralympic medal tally now standing at 27, Sema’s success continues to highlight his impressive journey, and his determination to achieve even more in the years to come.
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