From J&K battlefield to Paralympics bronze: Sema's inspirational journey through hardships

Hokato Hotozhe Sema’s rise in para-athletics has been nothing short of inspiring.

On a quiet October day in 2002, a young soldier’s dreams were shattered in a heartbeat in the volatile terrain of Jammu and Kashmir’s Chowkibal.

An unexpected explosion ended the ambition of Havildar Hokato Hotozhe Sema to join the Special Forces.

That landmine blast during an anti-terrorist operation claimed his left leg below the knee, inflicting immense physical pain and mental trauma.

Sema's world went dark, or everyone thought so.

But for Sema, it was the beginning of an extraordinary journey of resilience, courage, and fierce determination to rebuild life – a process he went through at the Army Paralympic Node, BEG Centre in Pune.

Twenty-two years later, at the swank State de France, the 40-year-old Indian shot-putter came up with his career-best throw of 14.65 metres to secure a bronze medal in the men's F57 category at the Paralympics to swell the country's medal haul to 27 (six gold, nine silver and 12 bronze).

His rise in para-athletics has been nothing short of inspiring.