Adversity is nothing new for a sportsperson. But how that person reacts and overcomes a challenge is how we determine the true mettle of an athlete. Seema Punia is that example. When a dope test stripped her of a junior gold, she could have given up in discus throw. But she chose to fight on and created her own legacy in the sport. This is her story.?
In 2000, Seema set the stage on fire when she won gold at the World Junior Championships. She was hailed as the 'Millenium Child'. But it proved to be a false dawn as she failed a dope test and was stripped of the medal. She also got a warning and it was easy for her to get bogged down at this stage. But Seema was in no mood to give up.?
Seema won a bronze in the 2002 edition of the tournament and now her journey really began. International success followed in 2006 when she clinched silver at the Commonwealth Games.?
2010 saw a Commonwealth bronze and it was followed by a silver in 2014. 2014 was the year of reckoning for her as she got her crowning moment. An Asian Games gold sealed the deal. In 2018 she won bronze at Asiad and silver in Commonwealth Games.?
She married her coach Ankush Punia. Ankush represented India at the 2004 Olympics.Seema will go down in history as one of our best athletes and in discus throw she has a household name. In a nation crazy for cricket, this village girl defied the odds to throw for glory. Thankfully she is not among those forgotten and even now people know about her. A legacy to be proud of indeed.? ??