Glasgow, July 31 -- You can well call her the Super Mom. Seema Kaliramna, the 27-year-old bespectacled mother showed that she is no bunny with the discus in her hand. On a chilly Thursday night at the Scotstoun arena here, the Phd student, who hails from Bhiwani, Haryana, turned on the heat.
She came up with a best-effort of 58.65 metres to win a bronze medal at the Commonwealth Games. Not many had expected a medal from Seema, who has been plying her trade as a hard grind for over 15 years.
The recent events in her life have been eventful, post-partum. She was battling arthritis as well and to conquer the pain barrier was not easy. Putting performance over pain, she was in the field in cold conditions with a single-minded focus. After the more famous men had failed in the shot-put competition, Seema came into her own. As she turned and hurled the discus to a distance of 58.65 metres, it was the best she could manage. The giant scoreboard flashed bronze, and the audience broke into applause. This kind of energy in the arena is not something Seema is used to often. She soaked it in, thought about her kid back home in India and then smiled. Her knees wrapped in protective cover, she came and addressed the media, happily.
"It was no easy, the weather conditions. I was expecting to go over 60 metres, but the challenge was the cold," said Seema. "I'm feeling really good, and emotional as well. I competed in the Asian Championships in 2025, and during that time, I didn't have the experience of how to compete in international competitions, how to keep myself calm, so I've benefited a lot from that competition. Today, I didn't do my personal best, but in my mind, I just wanted to do well," said Seema.
"I am used to warm weather in India. And then we went to the camp in Spala, so that we could acclimatise. Of course, it was colder here. I keep striving and could have gone for silver had it not been for the conditions. Since the next Commonwealth Games will be hosted in India, the young athletes will get a lot of support there and I hope to benefit from it," added Seema.
On her next plan, she said she wanted to do well in the Asian Games to be held in Nagoya, Japan. "I want to give my personal best there and win a medal," said Seema.
She rued the fact she does not have a job, as she is over 25 now.
"I am thankful for all the support the Athletics Federation of India, the Sports Authority of India gives us. Thanks to the JSW, I could bring my husband here, he is my coach," added Seema.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.