Paris Paralympics 2024: Hokato Hotozhe Sema bags bronze with new personal best throw in men's Shot put F57

This is Hokato Hotozhe Sema’s maiden Paralympic medal.

India’s Hokato Hotozhe Sema bagged a bronze medal in men’s shotput F57 event at the Paris Paralympics 2024. His bronze, which was the 27th medal for India and just second on the day, was achieved with a new personal best throw of 14.65m. Compatriot Soman Rana finished a disappointing fifth despite being among the medal favourites pre-event.

Meanwhile, Hokato, 40, put up a big surprise by clinching the bronze medal. His pre-event personal best of 14.49 was fifth best among all competing athletes. But Hokato, who serves in the Indian Army as a Havilder, produced a massive 14.65m throw in his fourth attempt to fetch himself a maiden Paralympics medal.

India's Hokato Hotozhe Sema is a Paralympic Games medallist!! 🇮🇳 🥉Sema bags the bronze medal in men's Shot Put F57 event with a massive new Personal Best of 14.65m at the #ParisParalympics. 🥳 pic.twitter.com/z7p7DeLF4u

— Khel Now (@KhelNow) September 6, 2024

This is also India’s 15th medal in athletics, almost double the number of medals the nation won at Tokyo (8) three years ago.

Sema started the competition with a first throw of 13.88m. He then bettered his mark with every effort, achieving a distance of 14.00m, 14.40m, and 14.65m with his next three throws. His fifth attempt was 14.15m, and his last attempt was 13.80m. The medal is also redemption for him after he suffered a heartbreak fourth-place finish at the World Para Championships earlier this year.

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On the other hand, his compatriot Soman Rana finished fifth with a best throw of 14.07m in his second attempt. Soman has a personal best of 15.02, which would have won him the bronze medal. However, the 41-year-old looked far from his best and had to settle for a fifth-place finish.

World record holder Yasin Khosravi of Iran won the gold medal with a best throw and a new Paralympic record of 15.96m, 5 cm short of his world record mark. Meanwhile, Tokyo bronze medalist Paulino dos Santos Thiago of Brazil upgraded the colour of his medal to silver with a best throw of 15.06m.

Hokato always wanted to join the elite special forces. However, he met with an unfortunate accident in 2002 when a mine blast during an army operation along the LoC left him without his left leg. But Sema didn’t give up and took up para sports. His determination and resilience has helped him become a Paralympic medallist. Hokato has also won the bronze medal at the Asian Para Games 2023.

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