Hokato Hotozhe Sema with the Arjuna Award on Friday in New Delhi. (Proto credit: Hokato Sema)
- KOHIMA — Paralympics
bronze medallist from Nagaland, Hokato Hotozhe Sema, was conferred the
prestigious Arjuna Award 2024 by President Droupadi Murmu at the Rashtrapati
Bhavan in New Delhi on Friday.
- Hokato, who won a bronze medal in the men’s shot put F57
category at the 2024 Paris Paralympic Games, received the Arjuna Award for his
outstanding performance in the para-athletics discipline.
- In a conversation with Eastern Mirror, Hokato shared that
ever since he started playing games in 2016, his ultimate aim was to be
conferred the Arjuna Award.
- He confided that he would tell his seniors, “I want nothing
but only the Arjuna Award.” To realise this dream, he had been working hard all
along.
- “It has been about eight years since I have been playing,
and today I got the opportunity to receive the Arjuna Award....I feel
complete,” he said.
- Sharing his future plans, Hokato said that he has already
started training for a major world championship to be hosted by India in
September this year.
- He also disclosed that his main target is to perform his
best at the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, USA.
- In a message, the paralympian extended gratitude to everyone
for supporting him. Hokato also urged everyone to support aspiring
sportspersons so that they can also achieve success and bring laurels to the
state.
The Arjuna Award for outstanding performance in sports and
games is given for good performance over a period of the previous four years
and for showing qualities of leadership, sportsmanship, and a sense of
discipline.
