Paris: Indian para-athlete Hokato Hotozhe Sema from Nagaland earned a bronze medal in the men’s shot put F57 category at the Paris 2024 Paralympics. Making his debut at the Games, the 40-year-old achieved a personal best throw of 14.65m on his fourth attempt to claim the podium finish. With this achievement, Sema became the first para-athlete from the state to win a medal at the Paralympics.
A soldier in the Indian Army, Sema lost his left leg in a landmine explosion during a military operation in 2002. He started his shot put career at the age of 32 and has shown impressive progress ever since. After finishing seventh in the 2023 World Championships and improving to fourth place this year, Sema won a bronze medal at last year’s Asian Para Games with a throw of 13.94m.
This victory brings India’s overall medal count at the Paris 2024 Paralympics to 27, which includes six gold, nine silver, and 12 bronze medals, marking the country’s best-ever performance at the Paralympic Games.
