Nagaland’s Paralympian Hokato Hotozhe Sema Tops Men's Shot Put F57

Hokato Hotozhe Sema, a subedar in the 9th Assam Regiment and a native of Nagaland, climbed to world No. 1 in the men's shot put F57 category on July 2, 2026, a remarkable achievement for someone who only picked up the sport at 32.

Hokato Hotozhe Sema's Journey to World No. 1 in Men's Shot Put

Sema's story starts in 2002, when a landmine blast during a military operation cost him his left leg. Nearly three decades later, that same soldier stands at the very top of the paraathletics world rankings.

He first announced himself on the global stage at the Paris 2024 Paralympics, winning bronze in the shot put F57 final on September 6, 2024, with a personal best throw of 14.65 meters at the Stade de France. Yasin Khosravi of Iran took gold at 15.96 meters, while Brazil's Thiago Paulino dos Santos claimed silver at 15.06 meters.

What is the shot put F57 classification?

F57 is a para-athletics classification for athletes with lower-limb impairments who compete in seated throwing events. The system groups athletes by the nature and degree of their impairment, ensuring fair competition across shot put, discus, and javelin disciplines.

Hokato Hotozhe Sema Awards and Career Highlights

Sema carries a remarkable record off the field too. He's the first Paralympian to receive the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal and also holds the Arjuna Award, one of India's most prestigious sports honors. Earlier achievements include a bronze at the 2022 Asian Para Games in Hangzhou and a silver at the 2022 Morocco Grand Prix.