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Indian shot-putter Hokato Sema, a survivor of a landmine blast, achieved his career-best throw of 14.65 meters to win a bronze medal in the men's F57 category final at the Paralympic Games. The 40-year-old Dimapur-born Army man, who previously secured a bronze medal at the Hangzhou Para Games last year, began with a modest throw of 13.88 meters before finding his stride. As the sole athlete from Nagaland in the Indian contingent at the Paralympics, he reached the 14-meter mark on his second attempt and further improved with a throw of 14.40 meters.
Sema, who lost his left leg in a landmine blast during an anti-terrorist operation in Chowkibal, Jammu & Kashmir in 2002, delivered his best throw on his fourth attempt, exceeding his previous personal best of 14.49 meters to secure the bronze medal.
Iran's Yasin Khosravi, a 31-year-old two-time para world champion and gold medalist from the Hangzhou Para Games, claimed the top spot with a Paralympic record throw of 15.96 meters on his fourth attempt.
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He narrowly missed breaking his own world record of 16.01 meters by just five centimetres. Brazil's Thiago Dos Santos earned the silver medal with his best throw of 15.06 meters.
F57 category is for field athletes with movement affected to a low degree in one leg, moderately in both feet or the absence of limbs. These athletes have to compensate for significant asymmetry in power from the legs but have full upper body power.
Encouraged by a senior army official at the Pune-based Artificial Limb Centre to try shot put due to his impressive fitness, Sema began the sport in 2016 at 32. He quickly progressed, competing in the National Para Athletics Championships in Jaipur later that same year.
The other Indian competitor, Rana Soman, who had won silver at the Hangzhou Para Games, finished fifth with a best throw of 14.07 meters.
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