Subedar Hokato Hotozhe Sema added another international podium finish to his career on 20 October 2026, taking Bronze in the Men’s Seated Shot Put (F56/F57) at the 5th Asian Para Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. Representing the Indian Army’s Paralympic Node, he produced a best throw of 14.65 metres in a contest that also featured strong results from fellow Army para-athletes on Day 2.
Iran’s Yasin Khosravi won Gold with a Games record throw of 15.25 metres, while Saudi Arabia’s Haidr Salamh claimed Silver with 14.97 metres. Sema’s effort marked an improvement on his fourth-place finish at the previous edition in Hangzhou and helped the Army Paralympic Node complete a Day 2 athletics return of three medals.
The day also brought medals in the throwing events for two other serving athletes. Havildar Rakesh secured Silver in the Discus Throw (F44), and Havildar Pardeep Kumar won Bronze in the Discus Throw (F64). Together, these results gave the Army Paralympic Node one Silver and two Bronzes in athletics on Day 2.
From injury in service to elite para-athletics
Sema was born on 24 December 1983 in P. Vihoto village, Niuland district, Nagaland. He joined the Indian Army and served with the Assam Regiment. In 2002, while on operations along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir, he lost his left leg below the knee in a landmine blast. After rehabilitation, he entered para-athletics in his early thirties and trained under coach Rakesh Rawat at the Army Paralympic Node. He later rose to the rank of Subedar and remains associated with the Node.
His recent results include Bronze at the 2022 Asian Para Games in Hangzhou and Bronze at the Paris 2024 Paralympics in the same event, where he also recorded a personal best of 14.65 metres. In 2026, he reached World No. 1 in the F57 seated shot put rankings, with fellow Army athletes Subedar Soman Rana and Lance Naik Shubham Juyal occupying the second and third positions at one stage. He has also been awarded the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (AVSM) — the first Paralympian to receive the honour — and the Vishisht Seva Medal (VSM).
Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Sema on the Aichi-Nagoya Bronze, noting that he had improved on his previous Asian Para Games performance and continued to make the nation proud.
Army Paralympic Node’s support system
The Army Paralympic Node works under the Mission Olympics Wing and the Army Sports Control Board. According to the source, it provides specialised coaching, infrastructure and support to soldiers who sustain disabilities in the line of duty, helping them move into structured competitive sport. The article says the programme has produced multiple international medallists in para-athletics and other disciplines, and the three medals won by its athletes on Day 2 in Aichi-Nagoya reflect that institutional support.
The 5th Asian Para Games continue until 24 October 2026, with India’s para-athletes still in action in the remaining days of competition.
