Sharmila Dhankar Celebrates Historic Commonwealth Games Gold Medal Win
A Remarkable Achievement
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.
Inspiring Journey
Dhankar's journey to the podium is truly inspiring. She secured the gold in the women's shot put F57 event, marking a significant milestone after overcoming domestic violence. The 40-year-old athlete achieved a season-best throw of 9.81 meters, outpacing Ghana's Zinabu Issah, who took 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 Shilpa finished in fourth place.
Future Aspirations
In an interview, Dhankar emphasized that her gold medal is just the beginning. She aims to compete in the Asian Games next and ultimately aspires for an Olympic gold. 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.
Historic Milestone
Dhankar also took pride in becoming the first Indian para-athlete to win a gold medal at the Commonwealth Games. Initially unaware of the significance of her achievement, she later expressed her joy upon learning that she had made history. "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," she shared.
Joyful Homecoming
Upon returning home, Dhankar delighted her children by surprising them with her medals. She reflected on how winning the Commonwealth Games gold surpassed her expectations and expressed her gratitude for the overwhelming support from her country. "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 said. "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 added.