New Delhi, August 28, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
For Seema Kaliramna, winning a Commonwealth Games medal is only one part of a journey that has seen her balance elite sport, motherhood and doctoral research while overcoming arthritis.
The Haryana discus thrower won bronze at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow and has now turned her attention to the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, where she hopes to upgrade the colour of her medal.
“My next focus is on the Asian Games. I have won a bronze at the Commonwealth Games; now my focus lies on changing the colour of the medal at the Asian Games,” Kaliramna told IANS.
Her bronze in Glasgow came despite a difficult start. Her opening throw landed in the net, while her second attempt reached around 57 metres. Rather than allow the setback to affect her, she relied on the mental skills developed through her PhD research.
“I was not worried at all after my first throw hit the net. I knew I had five throws,” she said.
Kaliramna’s doctoral research focuses on the “Impact of Imaginary and Positive Self-Talk Training on Athletes’ Performance”, a technique she has applied to her own career. Her third throw travelled 58.65 metres, ultimately securing her the bronze medal.
“If I had not been mentally prepared, I would not have been able to nail my other throws well,” she said.
Her sporting journey has also involved a major health challenge. After giving birth to her son in 2022, Kaliramna developed arthritis and her weight fell from around 80-85 kg to 50-55 kg. Doctors advised her to take steroids, but her husband and coach, Ravinder, encouraged her to focus on muscle-strengthening exercises.
“He told me that we will practice and train, which will help me build muscle and it might bring the arthritis pain down a lot,” she recalled.
She said the approach helped and that the pain, which once posed a major challenge, now occurs only occasionally.
Kaliramna remains cautious about her diet because certain foods can trigger swelling. During a recent Silver Continental tour, she developed swelling in her hands and legs and later identified a food item that had caused the reaction. After eliminating it from her diet, the swelling subsided.
Balancing sport and academics has also required discipline. Supported by the Inspire Institute of Sport, Kaliramna uses rest days to work on her PhD and credits her family for helping her continue her sporting career.
“Study has never been a barrier to sports,” she said, adding that her son’s grandparents take care of him while she trains.
Training keeps her away from her four-year-old son, but the family has found ways to stay connected. Her son occasionally travels with his grandparents from Bhiwani to Patiala, where she trains, and stays with her for two to three days.
With a Commonwealth Games bronze already secured, Kaliramna is now chasing a bigger target at the Asian Games. For an athlete who has simultaneously navigated motherhood, doctoral research and a demanding sporting career, another medal would add a new chapter to an already remarkable journey.
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