When former Army soldier Hokato Sema stood on the Paralympic podium in Paris, bronze medal in hand, he carried more than personal triumph. He carried the spirit of a nation, the resilience of a soldier, and the hopes of countless Indians with disabilities who look for strength in the face of despair. His journey is not only the story of a medal; it is the story of how sports can restore purpose, dignity, and the power to serve the country in ways one never imagined. Born and raised in Nagaland, Sema’s childhood dream was not of medals, but of the Indian Army. Inspired by the film Border and the proud warrior legacy of his tribe, he longed to become an elite soldier in the Special Forces. He was close—painfully close. After joining the Assam Regiment and completing his training in Jammu and Kashmir, he was just three days away from moving into the Special Forces when fate struck. On one final patrol with his old unit, he stepped on a landmine. In an instant, the future he had imagined disappeared. He woke up in a hospital with part of his leg gone. Though he returned to service, his duties were reduced to administrative tasks — far from the battlefield he had trained for. The weight of disappointment was crushing.
For nearly 15 years, Sema carried that quiet grief. He worked in the Army, he lifted weights in the gym, but the fire inside him was dim. That was until a chance meeting in Pune with Col. Gaurav Dutta changed everything. The Colonel suggested he try para athletics, planting the seed of a new purpose. Sema threw himself into training with the discipline of a soldier. Watching YouTube videos, learning techniques, and entering competitions, he quickly made a mark. In 2017, at his very first National Championships in Jaipur, he won gold in shot put. It was the beginning of a second life. The road was far from smooth. His standing category was removed in 2018, forcing him to adapt to wheelchair throws. Then the COVID-19 pandemic delayed his reclassification, robbing him of the chance to compete in the Tokyo Paralympics. For two years, he trained without reward. For a time, he considered quitting. But he reminded himself of the same lesson the Army had taught him: negative thoughts never win battles. Sema’s perseverance paid off. In 2023, he won bronze at the Hangzhou Para Asian Games, setting the stage for Paris. But even that dream was nearly taken away. In the weeks leading up to the Games, he was struck by dengue, followed by chickenpox just three days before departure. Weak and unable to train, his body felt unready.
Yet, when he stepped into the arena in Paris, something shifted. He heard a voice inside: You’re not going home without a medal. Against all odds, he threw a Personal Best of 14.66m and claimed bronze in Men’s Shot Put F57. That medal was more than metal. It was proof that no illness, no injury, no limitation could break a soldier’s will to fight for his country. Returning home, Sema was celebrated as Nagaland’s first Paralympic medalist and honoured with the Arjuna Award. He suddenly found himself in the public eye, invited to events and ceremonies. But fame brought distractions. Training slipped, and at the Khelo India Paralympic Games, he managed only third place. Critics questioned how a Paralympian could lose at home. That sting of defeat reignited his discipline. Determined, he returned to serious training, winning gold at the India Open Para Athletics Championships with a new personal best of 14.88m. His focus is now firmly set on the World Para Athletics Championships in Delhi, where he vows to finally claim a medal. Beyond achievements, sports has given Sema something more valuable: his confidence. He recalls the early years after his injury, when he would hide his stump in shame. Today, he proudly wears shorts, unafraid of stares. “If people look, let them. I tell others with disabilities never be shy. Turn your weakness into strength.”
Hokato Sema is not done. Paris was a milestone, but his eyes are set on the Los Angeles 2028 Paralympic Games. With every throw, every medal, and every lesson learned, he carries forward his mission: to serve India once again, this time not on the battlefield, but on the global stage of sports. In Sema’s journey lies a message for every Indian: courage is not the absence of hardship, but the refusal to surrender to it. Hokato Sema: From Battlefield to Paralympic Podium, a Soldier’s Journey of Grit and Glory his story is a reminder that when one path closes, another can open—sometimes leading to even greater victories.
