Indian discus thrower Seema Kaliramna has opened up about how returning to competitive athletics after becoming a mother reshaped her mindset, saying the experience built a patience and mental resilience that now fuels her preparations for the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. The 27-year-old, who holds a personal best of 59.73m set earlier this season, heads into the Games on the back of the strongest form of her career.

Balancing Motherhood, a PhD and the Track

Seema described the period after childbirth as one of the most demanding of her life, juggling training schedules with doctoral studies and family responsibilities. 'Returning to competition after becoming a mother taught me to be more patient with myself. There were days when balancing training, my PhD and family responsibilities felt overwhelming, but every challenge made me mentally stronger. Having the support of my family and the team at the Inspire Institute of Sport has helped me stay focused on my goal and continue improving as an athlete,' she said.

Rather than viewing those competing demands as obstacles, Seema credits them with sharpening her discipline — a quality her husband and coach, Ravinder Kaliramna, says has defined her entire comeback arc.

National Gold and Commonwealth Games Qualification

The comeback has produced concrete results. Seema claimed gold at the 2025 National Games and secured the national title before earning her berth at the Commonwealth Games. Her personal best of 59.73m, achieved this season, confirmed that the form is not merely consistent but career-defining.

Notably, her qualification came through a sustained run of performances rather than a single standout throw — a pattern that reflects her philosophy of incremental improvement over chasing peak marks. 'Discus is an event where consistency matters just as much as distance. Every training session is about improving a little, trusting the process and making sure you can reproduce your best throws when it matters. I'm happy with the work I've put in this season, and Glasgow is another opportunity to test myself against a strong field,' she said.

What Her Coach Says

Ravinder Kaliramna, who coaches his wife through the technical demands of discus, says her refusal to take shortcuts has been the defining factor. 'Seema has never looked for shortcuts. Whether it was returning after motherhood or balancing her PhD alongside training, she has approached everything with discipline and consistency. We've focused on improving the small technical aspects every day, and that's why she's reached this stage. I believe she's ready to compete with the best and enjoy the moment in Glasgow,' he said.

The coach-athlete dynamic, complicated by their personal relationship, appears to have worked in Seema's favour — providing both technical guidance and the kind of close-knit support system that elite athletes rarely have access to.

Mindset Heading Into Glasgow

Seema says her biggest competitive lesson has been to prioritise execution over outcomes — a shift in mental approach that many athletes only arrive at late in their careers. 'Over the years, I've realised that every competition is a learning experience. I'm proud of how far I've come, but I also know there's still room to grow. My focus is on enjoying the competition, executing my throws and continuing to improve with every opportunity I get,' she said.

This comes amid a broader surge in Indian women's field athletics, with several throwers posting personal bests ahead of major international competitions in 2026. Seema's story — combining elite sport, motherhood, and academic pursuit — adds a rare dimension to that narrative. With the Commonwealth Games stage awaiting, she will look to convert a season of consistency into a landmark international result.