Sharmila Dhankar makes history at Glasgow 2026, securing India’s first para-athletics gold in shot put F57. End of a 20-year wait for India at Commonwealth Game
Sharmila Dhankar has made history at the Commonwealth Games 2026 in Glasgow, securing India’s first-ever gold medal in para-athletics. The 40-year-old athlete triumphed in the women’s shot put F57 event, achieving a season-best throw of 9.81 metres at Scotstoun Stadium. This victory also marks the end of India’s 20-year wait for a para-athletics gold at the Commonwealth Games.
Dhankar’s teammate, Shilpa K Shyla, also earned a bronze medal in the same event, contributing to a rare double-podium finish for India. The F57 category is designated for athletes with lower limb impairments or reduced muscle power. Dhankar’s achievement has garnered praise from President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, with Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya sharing a video celebrating the success.
Dhankar’s Journey to Gold
Born in Haryana’s Chitrauli village on August 15, 1986, Sharmila Dhankar contracted polio at the age of two, which affected her left leg. Her early life included working in fields and caring for cattle. She faced personal challenges, including an early marriage at 19 and subsequent abuse. She later remarried Ajit Singh in 2018, who encouraged her to pursue para sports.
Ajit Singh introduced her to kabaddi before she began training under Paralympian-coach Tek Chand, a bronze medallist in seated shot put at the 2018 Asian Para Games in the F57 category. Dhankar won a gold medal in her debut at the 2021 Para National Championships. She previously competed in the 2022 Birmingham Para Commonwealth Games and the 2023 Hangzhou Asian Para Games, finishing 4th in both tournaments.
Despite financial difficulties that led her husband to sell their home and her mother to sell farmland, Sharmila Dhankar persevered. She expressed a desire to buy a new house with her winnings and aims to compete in the upcoming 2026 Asian Games in Japan. She also hopes her daughters, Anuj and Laxmi, will one day join her in competing at the Games in javelin and long jump, respectively.
Weightlifting and Athletics Updates
In other events at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, India’s Nirupama Devi Seram competed in the women’s 63kg weightlifting final. She completed the snatch round with a best lift of 93kg, placing fifth. Canada’s Maude Charron led the snatch round with a Commonwealth Games record lift of 102kg, followed by Nauru’s Femily-Crystie Notte with 100kg, and Australia’s Kiana Rose Elliott with 99kg.
Nirupama Devi Seram had initially aimed for a 93kg opening snatch attempt, which she failed, but successfully lifted 93kg on her second attempt. She was unable to complete her 95kg snatch attempt. In the clean and jerk round, she attempted to lift 123kg but failed all three attempts, resulting in no total mark for the competition and ending her medal contention.
Elsewhere, India’s Vishal TK advanced to the semifinals in the 400m event, finishing second in Heat 6 with a time of 46.49 seconds. Rajesh Ramesh, however, did not qualify for the semifinals after placing third in Heat 3 with a time of 47.43 seconds. In swimming, para swimmers RVVBK Budigina and Ali Imam both qualified for the men’s 50m freestyle S13 final. Budigina finished third in Heat 1 with 26.33 seconds, while Imam clocked 28.41 seconds to finish fifth in Heat 2.
Srihari Nataraj secured a spot in the men’s 100m backstroke semifinals, 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, clocking 24.94 seconds in Heat 9 and finishing 28th overall among 70 swimmers. A time quicker than 24.25 seconds was needed for qualification. India currently ranks 8th in the medal table with 2 gold, 5 silver, and 3 bronze medals, totaling 10 medals as of July 28, 2026.
The Commonwealth Games 2026 in Glasgow, Scotland, are scheduled from July 23 to August 2, 2026, featuring athletes from 72 Commonwealth nations and territories. India is participating with a 191-member contingent, including 126 athletes and 65 officials.
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
