CHENNAI: Hokato Hotozhe Sema had fought many battles. But the battle he fought within himself was the toughest. Any impairment of the body can create havoc in the mind. The battle between creating doubts and remaining positive is more intense.

For almost 20 years, until the Paris Paralympics, he was just another person trying to pick up the pieces of whatever was left of his life. It was sports that acted as a balm.

On Friday late night, Sema won bronze in the shot put at the Paralympics in F57 category which propelled him from obscurity to stardom.

For a man who did not know about Paralympics a few years ago, the medal itself is a surreal journey. His 14.65m was his best effort in the sport. He finished behind Yasin Khosravi winning the gold with 15.96m throw and Thiago Paulino dos Santos from Brazil silver with 15.06m. Because of the disability, athletes are harnessed to a seat for throwing.

Sema was two months shy of 19, about two years into the profession when he lost his left leg during a counter-infiltration operation (mine blast) in Jammu and Kashmir in 2002.

For a teenager who was dreaming of entering Special Forces, this was the last thing he would have dreamt about. Yet, he was there shattered physically and emotionally. Forget about leading a normal life, he did not know how life would take a turn. Yet he remained stoic. He wanted to make a mark in his life and sports gave him the opportunity and also a platform to serve the country.

It was not easy for the para-athlete after losing his leg. The mental scars remained. Yet, in this hour of extreme joy, he remembered the hardship his family had to go through. Sometimes, according to reports, his wife would go without food to provide him with a proper diet. He dedicated the medal to her.

Sema, who is in 9th Assam Regiment, first tried his hand in discus (standing) but since the event got scrapped from the Paralympics, he started training in the shot put.

“He has been at the Army Para Node in Pune and is working with me for more than two years,” said coach Rakesh Rawat, who trained able-bodied throwers at Army Sports Institute in Pune.