Mother, Scholar, Medallist: Seema Kaliramna Caps Inspiring Comeback With CWG Bronze

Mother, Scholar, Medallist: Seema Kaliramna’s Remarkable Comeback Earns CWG Bronze

Seema Kaliramna’s Commonwealth Games bronze was built on a single decisive throw, but the journey behind it was far more extraordinary. The Indian discus thrower, who returned to elite competition after motherhood while pursuing a PhD, completed an inspiring comeback by securing a place on the podium in Glasgow.

The 27-year-old from Haryana finished third with a best throw of 58.65m, a mark she achieved in the third round and one that ultimately proved enough to clinch bronze.

With three consecutive fouls in her final attempts, Seema had no opportunity to improve her distance and could only watch as her rivals made their last throws. Cameroon’s Monie Nora Atim was the only athlete capable of denying her a medal, but failed to surpass 58.65m, confirming Seema’s bronze.

A Comeback Years in the Making

Seema’s return to the top has been one of Indian athletics’ most inspiring stories. Alongside competing at the highest level, she is pursuing a PhD in Physical Education at Chaudhary Bansi Lal University in Bhiwani.

She resumed competitive training just 11 months after giving birth to her son, Rudra. Guiding her through the comeback has been her husband and coach, Ravinder “Monu” Kaliramna, a former national-level discus thrower.

Regaining peak fitness after pregnancy was a demanding process, with Seema working tirelessly to rebuild her strength, technique and confidence. Her perseverance paid off when she won gold at the 2025 National Games, signalling her return among India’s top discus throwers.

One Throw Made the Difference

Seema’s final result came despite an inconsistent series. She opened with a foul before throwing 57.32m in the second round. Her third attempt of 58.65m turned out to be the medal-winning effort.

The remaining three attempts all ended in fouls, leaving her anxious as the competition drew to a close.

Jamaica’s Samantha Hall claimed gold with a Games-best 61.66m, while Canada’s Julia Tunks secured silver with 60.67m. India’s Nidhi Rani finished fourth after a best effort of 57.10m, narrowly missing out on a medal.

More Than Just a Bronze

For Seema, the medal represented far more than a podium finish. It was the reward for years of determination, balancing motherhood, academics and elite sport while fighting her way back to international competition.

In the end, it wasn’t the three fouls that defined her campaign, but one brilliant throw that completed a remarkable comeback and earned India another Commonwealth Games medal.