Landmine blast survivor shot-putter Hokato Sema wins Paralympics bronze

Paris, Sept 7: Landmine blast survivor Indian shot-putter Hokato Sema came up with his career-best throw of 14.65 metres to secure a bronze medal for the country in the men’s F57 category final at the Paralympic Games here on Friday.

The 40-year-old Dimapur-born Army man, who had won the bronze medal at the Hangzhou Para Games last year, started with a mediocre throw of 13.88m before he hit a purple patch.

The only athlete from Nagaland who is part of the Indian contingent at the Paralympics touched the 14m mark on his second throw and then improved further with a heave of 14.40m.

However, Sema, who lost his left leg in a landmine blast while taking part in an anti-terrorist operation in Jammu & Kashmir’s Chowkibal in 2002, achieved his best throw in his his fourth throw, surpassing his personal best of 14.49m on way to the bronze medal.

Iran’s Yasin Khosravi, the 31-year-old two-time para world champion and Hangzhou Para Games gold medallist, clinched the top spot with a Paralympic record of 15.96m, which he achieved on his fourth attempt. He missed rewriting his own world mark of 16.01m by just five centimetres.

Brazil’s Thiago Dos Santos took the silver with his best throw of 15.06m.

Sema, who was encouraged by a senior army official at the Pune-based Artificial Limb Centre to take up shot put after seeing his fitness, took up the sport in 2016 at the age of 32 and was soon competing in the National Para Athletics Championships in Jaipur the same year.

The other Indian in the fray, Rana Soman, silver medallist at the Hangzhou Para Games, finished fifth with a best throw of 14.07m.

F57 category is for field athletes with movement affected to a low degree in one leg, moderately in both feet or the absence of limbs. These athletes have to compensate for significant asymmetry in power from the legs but have full upper body power. (PTI)

Hot this week

Pay hike of Assam ministers, MLAs likely as 3-member panel submits report

Full report likely by Oct 30 Guwahati Sept 25: There...

Meghalaya Biological Park Inaugurated After 25 Years: A New Chapter in Conservation and Education

Shillong, Nov 28: Though it took nearly 25 years...

ANSAM rejects Kuki’s separate administration demand, says bifurcation not acceptable

Guwahati, Sept 8: Rejecting the separate administration demand of...

Meghalaya man missing in Bangkok

Shillong, Jan 10: A 57-year-old Meghalaya resident, Mr. Treactchell...

Meghalaya’s historic fiber paves the way for eco-friendly products and sustainable livelihoods

By Roopak Goswami Shillong, Oct 25: From making earbuds to...

Debutants Diamond Harbour beat East Bengal to reach Durand Cup final

Kolkata, Aug 20: Second-half strikes from Mikel Idiakez and...

Fight against drugsFive major drug dealers detained in past 1 year

Shillong, Aug 20: In a boost to the state’s...

Airport Expansion: Govt to speed up land acquisition process: Dy CM

Shillong, Aug 20: Deputy chief minister in-charge Transport Sniawbhalang...

Govt mulls forming Territorial Army, to discuss on Aug 26

Shillong, Aug 20: The state government has decided to...

State clears biopic on U Tirot Sing Syiem

Shillong, Aug 20: The Meghalaya government has given the...

DoNER clears Rs 220-crore tourism projects in Sohra  

Heritage resort to be built at British era sericulture...
spot_img

Related Articles

Popular Categories