Nagaland’s Hokato Sema has created history at the ongoing 2024 Paralympics by securing a bronze medal for India in the men’s F57 category final on Friday.
Hokato, who hails from Dimapur in Nagaland, is an army veteran and is a landmine blast survivor. He also bagged a bronze medal at the Hangzhou Paralympics last year.
Hokato Sema’s Inspirational Path from Injury to Paralympic Success
On Friday, Hokato touched the 14m mark with his second throw and then improvised himself with a 14.40m throw. Hokato was a havalder in the Indian Army, and lost his leg during an operation at the Line of Control in 2002, because of a landmine blast.
After this terrible accident, Sema took a long break after his injury before he started competing in the shot put at the age of 32, demonstrating his resilience and determination. He quickly established himself as a top-tier shot-putter, winning a bronze medal at the Hangzhou Para Games just a few years after taking up the sport.
Sema took inspiration from a senior army official at the Pune-based Artificial Lime Centre to start shot put. He started the sport in 2016 at the age of 32 and competed in the National Para Championships in Jaipur in the same year.
Sema Broke His Previous Records
In the ongoing Paralympics, athletes in the F57 classification, Sema competed while seated. Throwing the Shot Put from this position is challenging as throwers usually use their legs and make fast movements to generate power. But being seated means that the athlete must rely entirely on their upper body strength.
With this Bronze medal, Hokato Sema has added another feather to his already illustrious hat as it is a significant milestone in his impressive career. This milestone will inspire millions of people and will motivate him to do reach greater heights moving forward.
Sema’s story is a testament to the human spirit, proving that even in adversity, one can achieve remarkable feats.
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