Paris 2024 Paralympics: Armyman Hokato Hotozhe Sema wins bronze medal in shot put

India’s Hokato Hotozhe Sema won the bronze medal in the men’s shot put F57 class at the Paris 2024 Paralympics on Friday.

The 40-year-old Indian para athlete, making his Games debut, secured the Paralympic medal with a personal best of 14.65m on his fourth attempt.

"This medal means a lot to me," Hokato Hotozhe Sema said. "I am representing India and the Indian Army, because I serve the army back home.

"I am filled with joy as I have done it for them and also for Nagaland, where I am from. I wanted to make all of them proud."

Islamic Republic of Iran’s Yasin Khosravi broke the previous Paralympic record of 15.00m on all of his six attempts. His gold-medal winning throw came off on the fourth attempt, measuring 15.96m. Brazil’s Thiago Paulino dos Santos won the silver medal for a 15.06m effort. India’s Soman Rana came fifth with a best of 14.07m.

"When I sat on my chair, and started doing my warm-up throws, I felt if I put in my best today, I would take home a medal," the Indian said. "I am delighted and proud to have created a personal best."

The F57 classification is a part of sports classes for field athletes able to perform seated throws. Their movement is affected in either one or two legs.

Hokato Hotozhe Sema, who serves in the Indian Army, lost his left leg in a landmine blast during a military operation in 2002. He took up shot put at the age of 32 and has made remarkable progress since then.

The 40-year-old Hokato Hotozhe Sema dedicated the Paralympic medal to his wife.

"She has sacrificed a lot for me," he explained. "She has often starved, so that I could eat and continue training because we didn't have enough money to ensure two square meals a day.

"She has been my biggest pillar of support. She has picked me up every time I felt like giving up. Without her, I would not have been on the podium today."

He finished seventh on his World Championships debut in 2023 but improved his standing with a fourth-place finish this year. He won the bronze medal at the Asian Para Games with a 13.94m throw last year.

The bronze medal brought India's total medal count to 27, comprising six gold, nine silver, and 12 bronze medals. The Paris 2024 has marked India's best performance at the Paralympics to date.