Hokato Hotozhe Sema, an armyman from Nagaland who lost his left leg in a land mine blast during an operation in J&K in 2002, has dedicated the shot put bronze medal he won in the Paris Paralympics to his wife who often “starved” so that he “could eat and train” because they didn’t have “enough money”.

While people in Nagaland are celebrating the success of the 40-year-old, who took to the shotput seriously in 2016, for his feat in his debut Games with a throw of 14.65m on Friday night, Sema did not forget his constant pillar of support in this inspiring journey of grit and endeavour, his wife.

Dedicating the medal to his better half, Sema told the media soon after his win, “This is for my wife.”

He then revealed her sacrifices, including how often she “starved” so that he could eat and train because they didn't have “enough money to ensure two square meals a day” and how she “picked him up” every time “he felt like giving it up”.

Hailing from Dimapur in Nagaland, Sema had joined the Army when he was 17 and dreamt of being a part of the Special Forces but fate dealt a cruel blow. After losing his leg, instead of despairing, he picked up the pieces and started training in earnest in 2016 and created history on Friday night in Paris.

He became the first medallist from Nagaland at the Olympics. He was also the first from Nagaland to win a medal in the Asian Para Games — a bronze in the 2022 Games held in China.

In a long poignant post on X, Abu Metha, associate vice-president of the Athletics Federation of India, articulates why Sema’s win is significant for Nagaland.

“Because of him we will have future Champions. He takes forward the legacy of Talimeren Ao and Chekrovolu Swuro... His message is clear — If HOTOZHE could, many more can. Inspiration.”

Sharing his back story, Metha said: “Every athlete, every Olympian has a back story that exemplifies the epitome of human endeavour.... Sema’s story is all that and much more. His struggles are unbelievable. He put his life on the line for the country. A landmine explosion while protecting the nation as an Armyman took away his leg. When he took up sports, he struggled to even get basic nutrition. But he kept fighting. He never gave up. Today he not only serves the country — which he always wanted to do — but he is making India shine among the comity of nations, at the highest stage of human excellence.”