Seema Punia (née Antil) (born 27 July 1983) is an Indian discus thrower.

Early and personal life Seema was born in Khewra, Sonipat in Haryana. Her sporting career began at the age of 11 years as a hurdler and a long-jumper, but later took to discus throw. She studied in the Government College, Sonipat.

Seema is married to Ankush Punia, her coach, and a former discus thrower who represented India at the 2004 Athens Olympics.

Career Seema originally won a gold medal at the 2000 World Junior Championships, where she earned the nickname: Millennium Child – but she was stripped off her medal due to a positive dope test for pseudoephedrine. As per the rules in force at that time for such an offence, her National Federation issued her a public warning after stripping her of the medal. She won a bronze medal at the next World Junior Championships in 2002.

She won a silver medal at the 2006 Commonwealth Games, and was honoured with Bhim Award by the Government of Haryana on 26 June 2006. Her absence from the 2006 Asian Games attracted considerable media attention. She had tested positive for a steroid (stanozolol) prior to the Games but was cleared to participate by her National Federation. She, however, opted out of the team for the Games.

She won a bronze medal at the 2010 Commonwealth Games. She finished 12th at the 2012 London Olympics. In 2014, she won a silver medal at the Commonwealth Games and a gold at the Asian Games.

International competitions Representing 2002World Junior ChampionshipsKingston, Jamaica3rdDiscus throw55.83 m2004Olympic Games Athens, Greece14thDiscus throw60.64 m 2006Commonwealth GamesMelbourne, Australia2ndDiscus throw60.56 m2010Commonwealth GamesDelhi, India3rdDiscus throw58.46 m2012Olympic Games London, England12thDiscus throw61.91 m2014Commonwealth GamesGlasgow, Scotland2ndDiscus throw58.44 mAsian GamesIncheon, South Korea1stDiscus throw61.03 m2016Olympic GamesRio de Janeiro, Brazil20thDiscus throw57.58 m2018Commonwealth GamesGold Coast, Australia2ndDiscus throw60.41 m2021Olympic GamesTokyo, Japan16th (q)Discus throw60.57 m2023Asian GamesHangzhou, China3rdDiscus throw58.62 m

See also List of sportspeople sanctioned for doping offences

References

External links