New Delhi, August 28: Seema Kaliraman recently clinched a bronze medal in discus throw at the Commonwealth Games 2026 held in Glasgow. Her next target is to win a medal at the Asian Games in Japan, and this time, she aims to change the color of her medal.
Seema is not just a discus throw athlete; her journey is truly inspiring. After battling arthritis, the emotional toll of being away from her four-year-old son, and winning a bronze medal at the Commonwealth Games, her story resonates with many.
In an exclusive interview, Seema stated, “My next focus is on the Asian Games. I have won a bronze medal at the Commonwealth Games, and now I want to change the color of my medal at the Asian Games.”
She added, “The journey has not been easy. I faced challenges during the Commonwealth Games as well. After my first throw hit the net, I was not worried at all. I knew I had five throws left. My second throw went nearly 57 meters, but I told myself that I still had four more throws to give my best.”
Seema is currently pursuing a PhD, with her research titled ‘The Impact of Imagery and Positive Self-Talk Training on Athletes’ Performance’. She mentioned that mental toughness helped her achieve a throw of 58.65 meters on her third attempt, ultimately securing her bronze medal.
“If I hadn’t been mentally prepared, I wouldn’t have performed well on my second throw either. My PhD topic is about the effect of imagery and positive self-talk training on athletes’ performance. I am applying it to myself, and it has yielded good results, including at the Commonwealth Games,” she explained.
After giving birth to her child in 2022, Seema faced issues with arthritis. While doctors advised her to take steroids, her husband, Ravinder, who is also her coach, encouraged her to train her muscles, hoping it would aid in her recovery.
“Arthritis had weakened me. My weight dropped from 80-85 kg to 50-55 kg. My husband supported me immensely during that time. The doctor suggested steroids, saying, ‘We can’t cure it completely, only manage it.’ My husband told me we would practice and train to build my muscles, which would significantly reduce the pain from arthritis. It turned out to be true; the pain is no longer permanent, just occasional,” she shared.
Seema also mentioned, “During my recent silver continental tour, I experienced swelling in my hands and feet. I was puzzled about what I had eaten that caused the swelling. After 2-3 days, I figured it out and eliminated that from my diet, and the swelling went away. So, I have to be cautious about what I eat. The arthritis issues come and go, but everything is fine now.”
She balances her roles as a mother, student, and athlete. “Studying has never hindered my sports. We get weekends off, so I work on my PhD during those days or other breaks. My family has been very supportive. My son’s grandparents take care of him, which helps me a lot. Due to training, I stay away from him. He comes to Patiala from Bhiwani with his grandparents to see me. He stays here for 2-3 days and then leaves,” she explained.
Seema reiterated her commitment to changing the color of her medal at the Commonwealth Games.
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