Sharmila Dhankar clinches shot put gold at Glasgow Games

Indian para-athlete Sharmila Dhankar secured her first gold medal in women's shot put F57 at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. She recorded a season-best throw of 9.81 metres on Tuesday, easily defeating her competitors. Ghana's Zinabu Issah claimed silver with a top effort of 8.65m, while Nigeria's Eucharia Iyiazi took bronze with an 8.19m throw. Another Indian competitor, Shilpa, finished closely behind in fourth place. This remarkable victory pushed India's overall medal count to eight at these prestigious games.

Haryana has long produced elite track and field stars, but Dhankar's rise highlights India's rapidly growing dominance in global para-athletics over recent years. Born in rural Chitrauli village, she contracted polio at two years old, which weakened one leg. Her early adult years brought severe emotional and physical hardships. She survived years of intense domestic violence and dowry harassment during her first marriage. At 26, after enduring a brutal assault, she fled that abusive environment with her two young daughters and battled severe depression.

Finding Strength Through Sport

Her life shifted entirely after she married Ajit Singh. He discovered para-sports in a local newspaper and urged her to compete. Showing immense dedication, her family sold their home in 2023 to fund her rigorous training expenses. She began her athletic career late, starting at age 34. She learned quickly, becoming a national champion by 2021. Now, at 40 years old, she stands as a celebrated international champion in Scotland.

India continues to perform strongly across multiple disciplines in Glasgow. Weightlifter Mirabai Chanu captured India's first gold earlier in the tournament. Six other talented Indian athletes have collected valuable silver and bronze medals so far. These victories span across weightlifting, high jump, and para powerlifting events, promising much more future sporting success for the highly dedicated national sports team moving forward today.

With Inputs from Agency Threads and Image Courtesy: ANI