Paralympics bronze medalist from Nagaland has been named among the winners of the prestigious Arjuna Award for outstanding performance in Sports and Games 2024
By Imna Longchar, TFM Nagaland Correspondent
Para-athlete Hokato Hotozhe Sema from Nagaland has been selected for the prestigious 2024 National Sports Awards. He is the lone player from the North-East to receive the honour this year. He has been named among the winners of the prestigious Arjuna Award for outstanding performance in Sports and Games 2024.
Announcing the lists of the winners for this year, the Union Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, stated that as is the tradition, the President of India will present the awards during a specially organized function at the Rashtrapati Bhavan on January 17, 11 am.
Hokato Hotozhe Sema won the bronze medal in the men’s shot put F57 category at the 2024 Paris Paralympic Games.
‘Arjuna Award for outstanding performance in Sports and Games’ is given for good performance over a period of the previous four years and for showing qualities of leadership, sportsmanship, and a sense of discipline.
The ministry stated that the government has decided to confer awards to sportspersons, coaches, universities, and entities based on the recommendations of the selection committee headed by Justice (Retd) V Ramasubramanian and members comprising eminent sportspersons, veteran sports journalists and administrators.
Thirty-one sportspersons will receive the Arjuna Award this time.
Sema’s journey into sports is a testament to his unwavering resolve. A former soldier with the Indian Army, Sema was stationed in Jammu & Kashmir’s Chowkibal when an unexpected landmine blast in October 2022 shattered his dream of joining the Special Forces.
The blast resulted in Sema losing his left leg below the knee, leaving him with immense physical pain and mental trauma. However, instead of giving up, Sema chose to pursue a new dream.
With the help of the Army Paralympic Node, BEG Centre in Pune, Sema began training in para-sports, specifically shot put. Despite the challenges he faced, Sema persevered, and 22 years after his injury, he achieved his dream of winning a Paralympic medal.