Sharmila Dhankar Wins Historic CWG 2026 Para Athletics Gold For India

By: Women Entrepreneurs Review Team | Tuesday, 28 July 2026

Indian para athlete Sharmila Dhankar created history after winning the women's Shot Put F57 gold medal at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, becoming the first Indian to secure a gold medal in para athletics at the Games. Her season-best throw of 9.81 metres also ended India's 20-year wait for a para athletics medal at the Commonwealth Games.

Key Highlights:

• Sharmila Dhankar wins India's first CWG para athletics gold
• India ends a 20-year Commonwealth Games para athletics medal drought
• Shilpa Shyla claims bronze as India records a historic double podium

Competing at Scotstoun Stadium, the 40-year-old delivered a dominant performance from the outset. She opened with a throw of 9.48m before improving to 9.81m in her second attempt, a mark that remained unmatched throughout the competition. Ghana's Zinabu Issah claimed silver with 8.65m, while India's Shilpa K. Shyla was upgraded from fourth to bronze after Nigeria's Eucharia Iyiazi was disqualified following her initial third-place finish.

The revised standings gave India its first-ever double podium finish in para athletics at the Commonwealth Games, with Sharmila claiming gold and Shilpa securing bronze. The victory also made Sharmila the first Indian woman to win a para-athletics medal at the Games, marking a defining moment for India's para-sports programme.

Sharmila's journey to the top of the podium is one of perseverance and resilience. Born in Chhithroli village in Haryana, she contracted polio at the age of two after suffering a high fever. Despite growing up in poverty and enduring an abusive first marriage, she rebuilt her life with the support of her family and found a new direction through sport.

Her sporting career began only in 2020, when her husband, Ajit Singh, introduced her to para athletics. Training under coach Tek Chand, she made rapid progress despite taking up competitive sport at the age of 34. In a remarkable show of support, Ajit reportedly sold the family's house in 2023 to finance her training and international competitions.

Since then, Sharmila has emerged as India's leading F57 shot put athlete. She won the national title in 2021 and has consistently delivered strong performances on the international stage. Earlier this year, she won gold in shot put and bronze in discus at the Fazza International Para Athletics Championship in Dubai, while also setting a national record of 9.52m. After narrowly missing the podium at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games and the Asian Para Games, her Glasgow triumph marked her maiden international gold medal.

Sharmila's victory further strengthened India's campaign at Glasgow 2026, where women athletes have played a leading role in the medal tally. Mirabai Chanu and Sharmila Dhankar have won gold medals, while Rishikanta Singh and Gyaneshwari Yadav secured silver in weightlifting. Bindyarani Devi claimed bronze in the women's 58kg weightlifting event, and Shilpa K. Shyla added another bronze in the women's Shot Put F57, highlighting the growing impact of Indian women athletes on the Commonwealth Games stage.