Nagaland’s pride, Hokato Sema, led a powerful start to the 7th Indian Open Para Athletics Championship at Shree Kanteerava Stadium, clinching gold in Men’s Shot Put (F56 & F57) with a throw of 14.88 meters, as the Services Sports Control Board (SSCB) swept the podium on Day 1.
The championship, featuring over 262 para-athletes from across India, also serves as the final selection trial for the national contingent heading to the New Delhi 2025 World Para Athletics Championships.
Sumit Antil (Haryana), double Paralympic medallist, dominated the Men’s Javelin Throw (F12 & F64) with a 72.25m effort.
Navdeep Singh (F40 & F41) and Sundar Singh Gujjar (F46) added to Haryana and Rajasthan’s medal haul in javelin.
Preeti Pal (Uttar Pradesh) won the Women’s 100m (T35, T37 & T42) in 15 seconds, while Simran (Uttar Pradesh) claimed gold in the T12 & T13 category with 12.30 seconds.
Deepthi Jeevanji (Telangana) clocked 56.70 seconds to win the Women’s 400m (T11–T20).
Track & Field Standouts
Delhi’s Sujith secured gold in both Men’s 100m (T13) and Long Jump (T13).
Kerala’s Mohammed Basil Morssi sprinted to victory in the T46 & T47 category with 10.95 seconds.
Chhattisgarh’s Sukhdev impressed in the Men’s 1500m (T11), finishing in 4:36.71.
The event not only showcased elite performances but also reaffirmed India’s growing strength in para-athletics. With Hokato Sema’s triumph, Nagaland marked a proud moment on the national stage, setting the tone for a championship filled with resilience and excellence.
Hokato strikes gold in shot put at Indian Para Athletics
BENGALURU, Jul 11 (AGENCIES)
