Sharmila Dhankar Triumphs with Gold at Commonwealth Games 2026

Sharmila Dhankar has made headlines by winning the gold medal in the women's shot put F57 event at the 2026 Commonwealth Games. Her inspiring journey from overcoming domestic violence to achieving athletic success is a testament to her resilience. With a season-best throw of 9.81 meters, she not only secured her victory but also contributed to India's growing medal tally in Glasgow. This article delves into her remarkable life story and the challenges she faced along the way, making her triumph even more significant.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jul 28, 2026, 03:29 IST

Inspiring Victory for Sharmila Dhankar

Glasgow [Scotland], July 28: Sharmila Dhankar has etched her name in the history of the 2026 Commonwealth Games by winning the gold medal in the women's shot put F57 event, showcasing an incredible journey from overcoming domestic violence to achieving glory in Glasgow on Tuesday.

The 40-year-old para-athlete delivered an impressive season-best throw of 9.81 meters, securing her victory ahead of Ghana's Zinabu Issah, who took home the silver with a throw of 8.65 meters. Nigeria's Eucharia Iyiazi earned the bronze with a distance of 8.19 meters, while fellow Indian athlete Shilpa finished in fourth place, as reported by ESPN.

Sharmila's remarkable achievement marked India's second gold medal at the Games, contributing to the nation's overall medal count of eight, which includes two golds, four silvers, and two bronzes.

This victory is a testament to her extraordinary life story. Hailing from Chitrauli village in Haryana, Sharmila contracted polio at the tender age of two, which impacted one of her legs.

At 18, she entered into a marriage that subjected her to years of physical and emotional abuse, facing violence over dowry issues and for having two daughters.

After a particularly brutal incident at 26, where she was beaten and expelled from her home, she returned to her parents with her children. During this challenging period, she battled suicidal thoughts.

Her life took a positive turn when she married Ajit Singh at 28, who introduced her to para-athletics after reading about it in a newspaper. The family's dedication to her aspirations was evident when they sold their house in 2023 to fund her training.

Although she began her athletic career at 34, Sharmila quickly rose to prominence, becoming India's top F57 seated shot put athlete and clinching the national championship in 2021, culminating in her gold medal win at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

Her success is part of India's ongoing strong performance in Scotland, with the country's medal tally now reaching eight.

India's medal winners to date include Mirabai Chanu (gold, weightlifting), Sharmila Dhankar (gold, women's shot put F57), Rishikanta Singh (silver, weightlifting), Muthupandi Raja (silver, weightlifting), Gyaneshwari Yadav (silver, weightlifting), Sarvesh Kushare (silver, high jump), Bindyarani Devi (bronze, weightlifting), and Jhandu Kumar (bronze, para powerlifting).