Sharmila Dhankar Celebrates Historic Commonwealth Gold Medal Win

Sharmila Dhankar, a remarkable Indian para-athlete, has made history by winning a gold medal at the Commonwealth Games 2026 in the women's shot put F57 event. Overcoming personal challenges, she expressed her joy and aspirations for future competitions, including the Asian Games and the Olympics. Dhankar's achievement marks a significant milestone as she becomes India's first para-athletics gold medallist at the Commonwealth Games. Her heartfelt reflections on support from her family and the nation highlight the emotional journey behind her success. Discover more about her inspiring story and future goals.

By Narendra Chaudhary Aug 7, 2026, 23:34 IST

A Remarkable Achievement at the Commonwealth Games

In Rewari, Haryana, Indian para-athlete Sharmila Dhankar expressed her excitement over winning a gold medal at the Commonwealth Games 2026, stating that this achievement is merely a preview of greater things to come. Dhankar's journey has been nothing short of inspiring, as she overcame domestic violence to claim victory in the women's shot put F57 event in Glasgow.

The 40-year-old athlete delivered an impressive throw of 9.81 meters, securing her gold ahead of Ghana's Zinabu Issah, who took silver with a throw of 8.65 meters. Nigeria's Eucharia Iyiazi earned bronze with a distance of 8.19 meters, while fellow Indian competitor Shilpa finished in fourth place.

In an interview, Dhankar shared her aspirations for the future, indicating that her gold medal is just the beginning. She aims to compete in the Asian Games next, with her ultimate goal being an Olympic gold medal. She expressed gratitude towards her mother and the government for their unwavering support throughout her journey.

"This Commonwealth gold is just a trailer. The movie is yet to come. The next target is the Asian Games. After that, I’ll set my target straight for the Olympics, for a good gold. I am very happy with the gold medal. I give credit to my mother. And also to our government. They’ve supported a lot," she stated.

Dhankar also took pride in being India's first para-athletics gold medallist at the Commonwealth Games, admitting she was initially unaware of the historic nature of her accomplishment. She reflected on her journey, noting that she has achieved several milestones, including being Haryana's first female conductor.

"I feel very happy. I didn’t know that this gold medal of mine would become the first medal in the Commonwealth Games. I didn’t know that. I thought someone else might have won it before. But when I found out that this is the first gold, I was very happy. When God made me a conductor, he made me the first female conductor in Haryana. Even when I brought the medal, I was the first one," she remarked.

Upon returning home, Dhankar delighted her children by surprising them with her medals. She expressed that winning the Commonwealth Games gold exceeded her expectations and thanked the nation for the overwhelming love and support she received.

"I’m happy to be home and meet the kids. The kids saw the medals. I came without telling them, didn’t tell anyone, I just showed up. I came unannounced, so they got a surprise and became even happier," she shared.

"I feel very good. I hadn’t even thought that there would be a gold in the Commonwealth, and so much would happen. I feel very happy. The love our country has given, I didn’t know that so much love is received. So it’s a very good feeling," she concluded.