Landmine Survivor Shot-Putter Hokato Sema Wins Paralympics Bronze

Paris Paralympics 2024: Hokato Sema, who is the country's landmine blast survivor, clinched the bronze medal in the men's F57 category shot put final at the ongoing quadrennial event by throwing at a career-best distance of 14.65m.

Hailing from Dimapiur, the 40-year-old para-athlete had clinched the bronze medal at the Huangzhou Para Games by throwing at a distance of 13.88m. But he bounced back and breached the elusive 14m mark in his second attempt, after a brilliant throw of 14.40m.

Medal Alert!#ParaAthletics: Men's Shot Put F57 Final#Paralympic athlete Hokato Sema clinched his first #Paralympics medal, securing a #Bronze with the best throw of 14.65 m. With his achievement, India's medal tally at the #ParisParalympics2024 reaches 27.

Meanwhile,… pic.twitter.com/1cPlhrcilN

— SAI Media (@Media_SAI) September 6, 2024

His fourth throw was his best as he broke his own personal best record of 14.49m and won the bronze medal.

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Soman Rana, the other Indian para-athlete and the Huangzhou Para Asian Games silver medalist finished at the fifth position by throwing at a career-best record of 14.07m.

The F-57 category is for those athletes, who suffer from a low degree of impairment movement in one leg or moderate impairment in both or are without legs. They compensate for significant asymmetry in leg strength, do maintain full strength in their upper body.

(With PTI inputs)