PUNIA Seema < Back  
Sport Athletics
CGA India   
Gender Women
Born 27 Jul 1983 in Sonipat, IND
Height1.80 m
Human Interest
General Interest
Awards and honours In 2022 she received the Arjuna Award from the government of India. (Instagram profile, 14 Feb 2023; President of India Twitter profile, 30 Nov 2022)

In 2006 she received the Bhim Award from the state government of Haryana, India. (daughterofindia.com, 29 Mar 2010)
Sport Specific Information
When and where did you begin this sport? She took up athletics at age 11.
Further Personal Information
Occupation Athlete
Languages English, Hindi
General Interest
Other information CHANGING SHOE SIZE
Her shoe size changed as a result of a foot injury she sustained after the 2018 Asian Games in Indonesia. "Before the Asian Games, I used to wear [UK size] nine and my throwing shoes used to be eight or eight and a half, but after the injury I wear [size] 10 and my throwing shoes are nine, nine and a half or 10. I have to insert an arch [into the shoe] and that alters the size of the shoes. All my old shoes have gone to waste." (newindianexpress.com, 02 Jul 2021)

SANCTION
She tested positive for the prohibited substance pseudoephedrine at the 2000 World Junior Championships in Santiago, Chile, where she had won gold in discus. She was stripped of the gold medal and received a warning from the Amateur Athletic Federation of India [AAFI]. She also tested positive for the prohibited substance stanozolol ahead of the 2006 Asian Games in Doha, Qatar. She was found innocent of any wrongdoing by the Athletics Federation of India [AFI] and was cleared to compete, but she chose to withdraw from the Games citing personal reasons. (hindustantimes.com, 27 Mar 2018; newindianexpress.com, 30 Sep 2014; thehindu.com, 02 Oct 2001; rediff.com, 08 Dec 2006)

OCCUPATION
She has been employed by the Haryana Police in India. (Facebook profile, 14 Feb 2023)
Injuries She was affected by a hip injury in the lead-up to the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England. (outlookindia.com, 04 Aug 2022)

She sustained a foot injury in 2018. (newindianexpress.com, 02 Jul 2021)

She was affected by a recurring knee injury for around 10 years between 2008 and 2018. (scroll.in, 29 Aug 2018)

She struggled with a shoulder injury in 2017, but continued to compete in events. (scroll.in, 05 Mar 2018)

She missed the 2010 Asian Games in Guangzhou, People's Republic of China, because of a back injury. (firstpost.com, 30 Sep 2014)
Sport Specific Information
Why this sport? She initially tried hurdles and long jump before her brother encouraged her to take up discus throw.
General Interest
Nicknames Millennium Child (bestinbombay.in, 30 May 2016)
Further Personal Information
Other names Seema Antil
General Interest
Ambitions To win a medal at the 2022 Asian Games in Hangzhou, People's Republic of China, and to compete at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. (outlookindia.com, 04 Aug 2022)
Hobbies Listening to music. (Facebook profile, 14 Feb 2023)