Seema Punia

Seema Punia-Antil (born 27 July 1983) is an Indian discus thrower. Her personal best throw is 62.62 m (205.4 ft), achieved at the Pat Young's Throwers Classic 2016 at Salinas (California) in the US.[1]

Seema Punia

Seema Antil (2010)
Personal information
Born	27 July 1983 Sonipat, Haryana, India
Sport
Country	India
Sport	Athletics
Event(s)	Discus throw
Medal record Commonwealth Games 2006 Melbourne Discus throw 2014 Glasgow Discus throw 2010 Delhi Discus throw 2018 Goldcoast Discus throw Asian Games 2014 Incheon Discus throw 2018 Jakarta Palembang Discus throw World Junior Championships 2002 Kingston Discus throw
Updated on 6 October 2014.

Early life

Seema Antil was born in Khewda village of Sonipat district in Haryana.[2] Her sporting career began at the age of 11 years as a hurdler and a long-jumper, but later took to discus throw.[3] Her gold medal win at the World Junior Championships in 2000 in Santiago earned her the nickname: 'Millennium Child'.[4] She studied in the Government College, Sonipat.

Career

Antil originally won a gold medal at the 2000 World Junior Championships, but she lost it due to a positive drugs' 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.[5] 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 Haryana state government on 26 June 2006. Her absence from the 2006 Asian Games attracted considerable media attention.[6] 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.[7]

She won a bronze medal at the 2010 Commonwealth Games. She finished 13th at the 2012 London Olympics. In 2014, she won a silver medal at the Commonwealth Games and a gold at the Asian Games.[8]

Personal life

Antil is married to Ankush Punia, her coach, and a former discus thrower who represented India at 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens.[9]

International competitions

Year	Competition	Venue	Position	Event	Notes
Representing  India
2002	World Junior Championships	Santiago, Chile	3rd	Discus throw	55.83 m
2004	Olympic Games	Athens, Greece	14th	Discus throw	60.64 m
2006	Commonwealth Games	Melbourne, Australia	2nd	Discus throw	60.56 m
2010	Commonwealth Games	Delhi, India	3rd	Discus throw	58.46 m
2012	Olympic Games	London, England	13th	Discus throw	61.91 m
2014	Commonwealth Games	Glasgow, Scotland	2nd	Discus throw	58.44 m
	Asian Games	Incheon, South Korea	1st	Discus throw	61.03 m
2016	Olympic Games	Rio de Janeiro, Brazil	20th	Discus throw	57.58 m
2018	Commonwealth Games	Gold Coast, Australia	2nd	Discus throw	60.41 m

See also

• List of sportspeople sanctioned for doping offences

References

1. "Discus thrower Seema Punia qualifies for Rio Olympics". The Hindu. Press Trust of India. 29 May 2016. Retrieved 29 July 2016.
2. "Seema Antil". Athletes. Sports Reference. Archived from the original on 18 April 2020. Retrieved 11 October 2010.
3. "Seema Antil profile". The Times of India.
4. "Asian Games 2014: Two no-shows and two doping charges later, Seema Punia spins gold". The Indian Express. 29 September 2014.
5. "The Hindu : Seema Antil loses gold medal on ephedrine violation". Hinduonnet.com. 2 October 2001. Retrieved 25 August 2014.
6. "Seema Antil not to take part in Doha". Ia.rediff.com. 31 December 2004. Retrieved 25 August 2014.
7. "Seema cleared, opts out". The Hindu. 9 December 2006. Retrieved 25 August 2014.
8. "India's discus thrower Seema Punia clinches gold at Asian Games". India Today. 29 September 2014. Retrieved 6 October 2014.
9. "CWG medallist ties the knot". tribuneindia.com. 8 February 2011.

External links

• Seema Punia at World Athletics