Thursday , December 26 2024

Who is Hokato? Who lost his leg at LOC, now created history in Paralympics | News India

Indian shot-put player Hokato Hotaze Sema has won a bronze medal for India in the Paralympics. Last year too, he won a bronze medal in the Para Asian Games. This year at the Paris Paralympics, he threw 14.65 meters in the singles final of the men's F-57 event and won a bronze medal. Hokato Hotaze Sema is also serving in the Indian Army, but his journey to win medals for India has not been easy.

I lost a leg for my country

In 2002, Hokato Hotze Seema participated in an anti-terrorism operation in Chokibal, Jammu and Kashmir, but lost his left leg in a landmine explosion. However, he tried to forget all this and move on in life. Hokato Hotze was the only athlete from Nagaland to participate in the SEMA Paralympics. He touched the 14-metre mark in his second throw and then covered a distance of 14.40 metres in the second round.

2016 was an inspired year

SEMA took up this sport in 2016 and created history within 8 years. Seeing Semani's fitness, a senior military officer at the Artificial Limb Centre in Pune inspired him to participate in shot put. Hokato serves as a Havildar in the Assam Regiment of the Indian Army. India had high hopes from him at the Paris Paralympics, as Hokato had finished fourth in the World Championships.

Iran's Yassine Khosravi, 31, a two-time Para world champion and gold medallist at the Hungaroring Para Games, finished first with a Paralympic record of 15.96m. Thiago Doss of Brazil won the silver medal with a best throw of 15.06m.