Write To Be You - Seema Antil Punia

How I hooked on discus throw – From hoping to get admission in English medium school to the family’s objection of going to a distant city and staying all alone.

Initially I had no idea of representing the country or achieving excellence in the sports, so, forget about knowing what discus throw is. I started going to the stadium with a reason to get enrolled in the Sports Authority of India’s (SAI) scheme. And the enrollment would get me free diet, sports kit and above all a chance to cherish my childhood dream of studying in an English medium school. 

I even cleared the SAI’s psychical test and was selected for their residential scheme located at the Chandigarh based English Medium School – Shivalik Public School. But when I got the selection letter, my elder sister and father objected to the idea of the family’s girl going to a distant city and staying all alone. Eventually, I missed the chance about which I was dreaming day and night. But one good thing happened that I didn’t leave the sport and continued with going to the local stadium in Sonepat. 

In the beginning I used to practice all athletics events – jumps, throws and running events. During one of the training sessions I asked a senior discus thrower Pawan Sangawn bhai shab about the plate event. First he laughed on discus being called plated and then he explained to me about the event. He advised me that as I have got a good height and long arms, I should try my hand in the event. Thankfully I took his advice and from that day till now discus has become an integral part of my life. 

A year later (1999) I was called to the national camp. 

I got an opportunity to represent the country in four Olympic games (2004, 2012, 2016 & 2020) and it makes me feel proud that I am the first and till date only Indian athlete to win medals in four successive Commonwealth Games (2006, 2010, 2014 & 2018). 

To be continued...