Seema Kaliramna produced her best throw when it mattered most to claim the bronze medal in the women’s discus throw at the Commonwealth Games 2026 past midnight on Friday in India, adding another athletics medal to the country’s tally.
The 27-year-old registered a season-defining 58.65m effort in the third round, a mark that ultimately proved enough to secure a place on the podium despite a dramatic finish. Seema fouled each of her final three attempts, leaving the door open for her rivals, but none could better her distance.
Uganda’s Monie Nora Atim came closest to denying the Indian a medal but failed to improve in the closing stages, ensuring Seema held on to third place. Jamaica’s Samantha Hall dominated the competition to win gold with a best
throw of 61.66m, while Canada’s Julia Tunks claimed silver with 60.67m.
The medal marked another milestone in Seema’s inspiring comeback. After taking a break from the sport following motherhood, she returned to competition and captured the gold medal at the 2025 National Games. Away from the field, she is also pursuing a PhD, balancing academics with elite sport.
Seema’s campaign got off to a difficult start as her opening attempt ended in a foul after the discus struck the cage. She quickly recovered with a 57.32m throw in the second round to move into medal contention before producing her decisive 58.65m effort in the third.
Hall and Tunks, meanwhile, established themselves as the leading contenders for the top two spots early in the competition. Tunks briefly led with 58.21m before Hall took control with 59.27m in the opening rounds. The Jamaican continued to improve as the event progressed, throwing 60.95m in the fourth round before sealing the title with a championship-best 61.66m in the fifth.
Although Seema was unable to improve after the halfway stage, her third-round throw proved sufficient to withstand the late challenge and secure a hard-earned Commonwealth Games bronze.
(With PTI Inputs)
