PM Modi Congratulates Paris Paralympic Medalists Praveen Kumar And Hokato Hotozhe Sema In Telephonic Conversation

Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently held a telephonic conversation with Indian Paralympic athletes Praveen Kumar and Hokato Hotozhe Sema, who achieved remarkable success at the ongoing Paris Paralympics.

Praveen Kumar won the gold medal in the men’s high jump T64 final with a record-breaking leap of 2.08 meters, setting a new Asian record. During their conversation, PM Modi discussed how Praveen utilized the internet to enhance his training and improve his performance.

Hokato Hotozhe Sema earned the bronze medal in the men’s shot put F57 final with a personal best throw of 14.65 meters. Despite his impressive performance, Hokato finished behind Iran’s Yashin Khosravi, who won gold with a throw of 15.96 meters, and Brazil’s Thiago Paulino dos Santos, who took silver with a 15.06-meter throw. PM Modi praised Hokato for his achievement in his first Paralympics at the age of 40.

Hokato shared a poignant moment from his past with ANI, recounting the time he lost his leg in a landmine explosion during a 2014 operation in Jammu and Kashmir. The injury led to amputation, marking a low point in his life.

India’s medal tally at the Paris Paralympics has risen to 27, comprising six golds, nine silvers, and 12 bronzes. This surpasses the five golds India secured at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics and marks the highest medal count India has ever achieved in a single edition of the Games. The nation’s previous record of 19 medals was set in Tokyo.

In Paris, India has competed in 12 disciplines, including three new sports: para-cycling, para-rowing, and blind judo, expanding its participation beyond the 9 disciplines at Tokyo 2020.