Hokato Hotozhe Sema won the bronze medal in the men’s shot put F57 event at the Paralympics 2024. On Friday, September 6, he finished third with a best attempt of 14.65 metres, which also happened to be his personal best. Yasin Khosravi of Iran won the gold medal with the best throw of 15.96 metres at Stade de France.
Moreover, he also broke the Paralympic record (13.49 metres), earlier held by Olokhan Musayev of Azerbaijan. Hokato became the first athlete from Nagaland to win a medal at the Paralympics for India. Thiago Paulino dos Santos from Brazil took the silver medal with the best attempt of 15.06 metres.
Paris Paralympics 2024, Day 9 Highlights
The Brazilian’s personal best wasn’t enough for him to win the gold medal. India’s Soman Rana was also a part of the event, but he failed to finish on the podium after finishing fifth with the best attempt of 14.07 metres. Rana made attempts of 13.32, 14.07, 13.83, 13.79, 13.80 and 13.86.
With Hokato’s triumph, India also extended their athletics medal’s tally to 15 in the Paralympics 2024. India are currently 17th in the overall medal’s tally with 27 medals, including six gold, nine silver and 12 bronze.
Hokato Hotozhe Sema’s attempts
13.88, 14.00, 14.40, 14.65, 14.15 and 13.80
Hokato Hotozhe Sema rising through challenges
Hokato, supported by the Olympic Gold Quest (OGQ), is employed as a havildar in the Indian Army with the 9 Assam Regiment. His athletic career began after a life-altering incident in 2002 when he lost his leg during an operation at the Line of Control due to a landmine blast.
Despite this setback, Sema has shown remarkable determination and perseverance. He won a bronze medal in the shot put F-56/57 category event at the 2022 Asian Para Games in Hangzhou, China. Sema took his game a notch up and won bronze in Paris.
Back in 2022, Hokato won the silver medal in the Morocco Grand Prix. Earlier this year, he also finished fourth in the World Championship.
