After Historic CWG Bronze, Seema Kaliramna Opens Up About the Sacrifice That Broke Her Heart

When Seema Kaliramna's discus landed at 58.65 metres, it earned India a bronze medal at the Commonwealth Games.

Moments later, her words revealed the price behind that throw. "I could not bring my son with me," she said, fighting back emotion. "It is extremely difficult and painful. You can call it a sacrifice."

The 27-year-old Indian athlete delivered the performance of her career in the women's discus throw final in Glasgow, bouncing back from an opening foul to claim a memorable bronze in her first-ever Commonwealth Games.

Jamaica's Samantha Hall took gold with a best throw of 61.66m, while Canada's Julia Tunks won silver with 60.67m. Kaliramna's third-round effort of 58.65m proved enough to secure her place on the podium, while fellow Indian Nidhi narrowly missed a medal, finishing fourth with 57.10m.

For Kaliramna, however, the medal meant far more than a place on the podium. It was the reward for years of balancing elite sport with motherhood, long periods away from home, and countless unseen sacrifices. "My husband arrived just two days ago. My son kept telling me to take him along," she said. "But my situation is such that I cannot bring him with me."

She described the separation as the hardest part of pursuing her dream.

Despite the emotional burden, Kaliramna said she was delighted with the outcome. "This was my first Commonwealth Games, and winning a bronze medal makes it even more special," she said. "The only real challenge during the competition was the cold weather because I had to keep warming up repeatedly."

Kaliramna also acknowledged the support system that made the journey possible, thanking the Athletics Federation of India (AFI), the Sports Authority of India (SAI), the National Centre of Excellence in Patiala, JSW, and her family.

But there was one person she wanted to honour above everyone else. "I would like to dedicate this medal to my husband," she said. "All the hard work and sacrifices behind this achievement have been possible because of his constant support."

Her husband, Ravinder, echoed that sentiment. "An athlete always dreams of winning a medal for the country," he said. "We both have the same dream. We both have the same spirit." For Kaliramna, the bronze medal will be remembered for the distance she threw. But perhaps even more for the distance she endured.

(With inputs from ANI)