Seema Punia
Seema Punia is an Indian discus thrower.
Early and personal life
Seema was born in Khewra, Sonipat in Haryana. Her sporting career began at the age of 11 years as a hurdler and a long-jumper, but later took to discus throw. She studied in the Government College, Sonipat.Seema is married to Ankush Punia, her coach, and a former discus thrower who represented India at the 2004 [Summer Olympics|2004 Athens Olympics].
Career
Seema originally won a gold medal at the 2000 [World Junior Championships in Athletics|2000 World Junior Championships], where she earned the nickname: Millennium Child – but she was stripped off her medal due to a positive dope 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. She won a bronze medal at the next 2002 World [Junior Championships in Athletics|World Junior Championships in 2002].She won a silver medal at the 2006 Commonwealth Games, and was honoured with Bhim Award by the Government of Haryana on 26 June 2006. Her absence from the 2006 Asian Games attracted considerable media attention. She had tested positive for a steroid prior to the Games but was cleared to participate by her National Federation. She, however, opted out of the team for the Games.
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.