{{Short description|Indian discus thrower (born 1983)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=December 2025}} {{Infobox sportsperson | image = XIX Commonwealth Games-2010 Delhi Winners of Discus (Women’s) Krishna Poonia of India (Gold), Harwant Kaur of India (Silver) and Seema Antil of India (Bronze) during the medal presentation ceremony of the event (cropped) - Seema Antil.jpg | image_size = 200px | caption = Punia at the 2010 Commonwealth Games | birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1983|7|27}} | birth_place = Khewra, Haryana, India | height = 1.82 m | sport = Athletics | event = Discus throw | pb = 64.84 m (Kyiv, 2004) | medaltemplates = {{MedalSport|Women's athletics}}30px {{MedalCountry|{{IND}}}} {{MedalCompetition|Asian Games}} {{MedalGold|2014 Incheon|Discus throw}} {{MedalBronze|2018 Jakarta|Discus throw}} {{MedalBronze|2022 Hangzhou|Discus throw}} {{MedalCompetition|Commonwealth Games}} {{MedalSilver|2006 Melbourne|Discus throw}} {{MedalSilver|2014 Glasgow|Discus throw}} {{MedalSilver|2018 Gold Coast|Discus throw}} {{MedalBronze|2010 Delhi|Discus throw}} {{MedalCompetition|World Junior Championships}} {{MedalBronze|2002 Kingston|Discus throw}} }}
'''Seema Punia''' (née '''Antil''') (born 27 July 1983) is an Indian discus thrower.<ref>{{cite news |title=Seema Antil profile |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/london-olympics-2012/olympics-2012-players/seemaantil.cms |newspaper=The Times of India}}</ref>
==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 Athens Olympics.<ref name=":0">{{cite web |date=8 February 2011 |title=CWG medallist ties the knot |url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/2011/20110208/haryana.htm#9 |website=tribuneindia.com}}</ref>
==Career== Seema originally won a gold medal at the 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.<ref>{{cite news |date=29 September 2014 |title=Asian Games 2014: Two no-shows and two doping charges later, Seema Punia spins gold |url=http://indianexpress.com/article/sports/sport-others/asian-games-2014-with-gold-discus-thrower-seema-punia-moves-past-doping-cloud/ |newspaper=The Indian Express}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hinduonnet.com/2001/10/02/stories/07020116.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20011023023217/http://www.hinduonnet.com/2001/10/02/stories/07020116.htm |url-status=usurped |archive-date=23 October 2001 |title=The Hindu : Seema Antil loses gold medal on ephedrine violation |publisher=Hinduonnet.com |date=2001-10-02 |access-date=2014-08-25}}</ref> 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 Government of Haryana on 26 June 2006. Her absence from the 2006 Asian Games attracted considerable media attention.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ia.rediff.com/sports/2006/dec/09dohalead02.htm |title=Seema Antil not to take part in Doha |publisher=Ia.rediff.com |date=2004-12-31 |access-date=2014-08-25}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.hindu.com/2006/12/09/stories/2006120910962000.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070105021218/http://www.hindu.com/2006/12/09/stories/2006120910962000.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=2007-01-05 |title=Seema cleared, opts out |date=2006-12-09 |newspaper=The Hindu |access-date=2014-08-25}}</ref>
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.<ref>{{cite magazine |title= India's discus thrower Seema Punia clinches gold at Asian Games |url= https://www.indiatoday.in/sports/asian-games-2014/story/india-seema-punia-clinches-discus-gold-at-asian-games-301412-2014-09-29 |magazine= India Today |date= 29 September 2014 |access-date= 6 October 2014}}</ref>
== International competitions == {| {{AchievementTable|Event=yes}} |- ! colspan="6" |Representing {{IND}} |- |2002 |World Junior Championships |Kingston, Jamaica |bgcolor=cc9966|3rd |Discus throw |55.83 m |- |2004 |Olympic Games |Athens, Greece |14th |Discus throw |60.64 m |- |2006 |Commonwealth Games |Melbourne, Australia |bgcolor=silver|2nd |Discus throw |60.56 m |- |2010 |Commonwealth Games |Delhi, India |bgcolor=cc9966|3rd |Discus throw |58.46 m |- |2012 |Olympic Games |London, England |12th |Discus throw |61.91 m |- |rowspan=2|2014 |Commonwealth Games |Glasgow, Scotland |bgcolor=silver|2nd |Discus throw |58.44 m |- |Asian Games |Incheon, South Korea |bgcolor=gold|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 |bgcolor=silver|2nd |Discus throw |60.41 m |- |2021 |Olympic Games |Tokyo, Japan |16th (q) |Discus throw |60.57 m |- |2023 |Asian Games |Hangzhou, China |bgcolor=cc9966|3rd |Discus throw |58.62 m |}
==See also== *List of sportspeople sanctioned for doping offences
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *{{World Athletics|id=14282762}}
{{Asian Games Champions Athletics Discus Throw Women}} {{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Punia, Seema}} Category:1983 births Category:Living people Category:Indian women discus throwers Category:21st-century Indian sportswomen Category:Olympic athletes for India Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 2004 Summer Olympics Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 2012 Summer Olympics Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 2016 Summer Olympics Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 2020 Summer Olympics Category:Commonwealth Games silver medallists for India Category:Commonwealth Games bronze medallists for India Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 2006 Commonwealth Games Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 2010 Commonwealth Games Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 2014 Commonwealth Games Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 2018 Commonwealth Games Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 2022 Commonwealth Games Category:Asian Games gold medalists for India Category:Asian Games athletes for India Category:Asian Games bronze medalists for India Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 2014 Asian Games Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 2018 Asian Games Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 2022 Asian Games Category:Sportswomen from Haryana Category:Sportspeople from Sonipat Category:Doping cases in the sport of athletics Category:Indian sportspeople in doping cases Category:Medalists at the 2014 Asian Games Category:Medalists at the 2018 Asian Games Category:Medalists at the 2022 Asian Games Category:Athletes from Haryana Category:Recipients of the Arjuna Award Category:Medallists at the 2018 Commonwealth Games Category:World Athletics Championships athletes for India Category:Commonwealth Games silver medallists in athletics Category:Commonwealth Games bronze medallists in athletics Category:Asian Games gold medalists in athletics (track and field) Category:Asian Games bronze medalists in athletics (track and field)