Sharmila Dhankar has made history at the Commonwealth Games 2026 in Glasgow, securing India’s first-ever gold medal in para-athletics. Competing in the women’s Shot Put F57 event, Dhankar achieved a season-best throw of 9.81 metres. This victory also marks the end of India’s 20-year wait for a para-athletics gold medal at the Games.
Dhankar’s teammate, Shilpa K Shyla, also medalled in the same event, earning a bronze. This achievement resulted in one of India’s rare double-podiums in the competition. The F57 category is designated for athletes with lower limb impairments or reduced muscle power.
Dhankar’s Journey to Gold
Born in Haryana’s Chitrauli village, Sharmila Dhankar contracted polio at the age of two, which affected her left leg. Her early life included challenges such as an early marriage and abuse. She later remarried Ajit Singh, who encouraged her to pursue para sports. Ajit Singh introduced her to kabaddi and then to Paralympian-coach Tek Chand, a bronze medallist in seated shot put at the 2018 Asian Para Games in the F57 category.
Under Tek Chand’s guidance, Dhankar refined her technique, learning to throw while standing with pole support. Her debut at the 2021 Para National Championships saw her win a gold medal. She previously competed in the 2022 Birmingham Para Commonwealth Games and the 2023 Hangzhou Asian Para Games, finishing fourth in both tournaments.
Despite personal hardships, including financial difficulties that led her husband to sell their home and her mother to sell farmland, Dhankar persevered. Her father also passed away during this period. Her gold medal win has garnered praise from President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, with Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya sharing a video of her and Shilpa’s achievement.
Dhankar, who started competing at the age of 33, expressed her desire for her daughters, Anuj and Laxmi, to also qualify for the Games in javelin and long jump, respectively. Following her gold medal win, she aims to purchase a new house and has set her sights on the upcoming 2026 Asian Games in Japan.
Weightlifting and Athletics Updates
In other events, India’s weightlifter Nirupama Devi Seram concluded her participation in the women’s 63kg final without securing a medal. After lifting 93kg in the snatch round, placing her fifth, she was unable to register a successful lift in the clean and jerk segment. Her opening attempt in the clean and jerk was set at 115kg, later raised to 123kg, but she failed to complete any of her three attempts at 123kg.
The snatch round saw Canada’s Maude Charron lead the field with a Commonwealth Games record lift of 102kg. She was followed by Nauru’s Femily-Crystie Notte, who lifted 100kg, and Australia’s Kiana Rose Elliott, who registered a 99kg snatch.
In athletics, India’s Vishal TK advanced to the semifinals of the 400m after finishing second in Heat 6 with a time of 46.49 seconds. However, Rajesh Ramesh, who placed third in Heat 3 with 47.43 seconds, did not qualify for the semifinals.
Indian para swimmers also saw success, with both participants in the men’s 50m Freestyle S13 final securing their spots. RVVBK Budigina finished third in Heat 1 with 26.33 seconds, while Ali Imam clocked 28.41 seconds to finish fifth in Heat 2, both qualifying for the medal race.
Swimmer Srihari Nataraj secured his place in the men’s 100m backstroke semifinals by finishing fifth in Heat 4 with a time of 55.58 seconds. However, Sajan Prakash did not qualify for the semifinals in the men’s 50m butterfly, finishing last in Heat 9 with 24.94 seconds, placing 28th overall among 70 swimmers.
India’s boxing contingent has five athletes—Preeti Pawar, Priya Ghanghas, Parveen Hooda, Jadumani Singh, and Kapil Pokhariya—competing in quarterfinal contests, each aiming to secure at least a bronze medal by advancing to the semifinals.
The Commonwealth Games 2026 are being held in Glasgow, Scotland, from 23 July to 2 August 2026, with India participating with a 191-member contingent.
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
