Seema Punia

Seema Punia-Antil (born 27 July 1983) is an Indian discus thrower.Her personal best throw is 64.84 m,achieved in Kyiv in 2004.

Seema Punia

Punia at the 2010 Commonwealth Games
Personal information
Born	(1983-07-27) 27 July 1983 (age 41) Sonipat, Haryana, India
Sport
Country	India
Sport	Athletics
Event	Discus throw
Medal record Women's athletics Representing  India Asian Games 2014 Incheon Discus throw 2018 Jakarta Palembang Discus throw 2022 Hangzhou Discus throw Commonwealth Games 2006 Melbourne Discus throw 2014 Glasgow Discus throw 2018 Goldcoast Discus throw 2010 Delhi 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.^[1] Her sporting career began at the age of 11 years as a hurdler and a long-jumper, but later took to discus throw.^[2] Her gold medal win at the World Junior Championships in 2000 in Santiago earned her the nickname: 'Millennium Child'.^[3] 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.^[4] 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.^[5] 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.^[6]

She won a bronze medal at the 2010 Commonwealth Games. She finished 12th at the 2012 London Olympics. In 2014, she won a silver medal at the Commonwealth Games and a gold at the Asian Games.^[7]

Personal life

Antil is married to Ankush Punia, her coach, and a former discus thrower who represented India at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens.^[8]

International competitions

Year	Competition	Venue	Position	Event	Notes
Representing  India
2002	World Junior Championships	Kingston, Jamaica	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	12th	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
2021	Olympic Games	Tokyo, Japan	16th (q)	Discus throw	60.57 m
2023	Asian Games	Hangzhou, China	3rd	Discus throw	58.62 m

See also

• List of sportspeople sanctioned for doping offences