Sharmila Dhankar Wins Gold at Commonwealth Games, Dedicates Victory to Her Mother

Sharmila Dhankar's Inspiring Victory

After securing the gold medal in the women's shot put F57 event at the 2026 Commonwealth Games, Indian para-athlete Sharmila Dhankar expressed her commitment to continue achieving success for her country. She dedicated her first international gold to her mother and is now focused on the upcoming Asian Games and Olympics. In her post-victory interview, Sharmila shared, "Winning this medal fills me with immense joy. It’s a proud moment for me, and I aim to keep bringing honor to India. This achievement was a dream for both my mother and me. I worked hard for this gold, and I know my mother will be thrilled. I look forward to competing in the Asian Games and the Olympics next. This is just the beginning, and I plan to win many more medals in the future."

India Celebrates a Double Podium Finish

Sharmila, aged 40, achieved a season-best throw of 9.81 meters to secure the gold, finishing well ahead of Ghana's Zinabu Issah, who took home the silver with a throw of 8.65 meters. The event turned into a double celebration for India when fellow para-athlete Shilpa Shyla was awarded the bronze medal after Nigeria's Eucharia Iyiazi was disqualified, marking India's first double podium finish at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games 2026.

Sharmila's Journey to Success

Sharmila's triumph contributed to India's medal tally, bringing the total to six medals on Day 5 of the Games, including two golds. Remarkably, she began her athletic career at the age of 34 and quickly rose to prominence as India's top F57 shot putter, becoming the national champion in 2021 before achieving her Commonwealth Games victory in Glasgow.

India's Impressive Medal Count at Glasgow 2026

With her gold medal, India has showcased a strong performance in Scotland, accumulating a total of 10 medals so far: two gold, five silver, and three bronze. The medal winners include Mirabai Chanu (gold in weightlifting), Sharmila Dhankar (gold in women's shot put F57), Rishikanta Singh (silver in weightlifting), Muthupandi Raja (silver in weightlifting), Gyaneshwari Yadav (silver in weightlifting), Sarvesh Kushare (silver in men's high jump), Valluri Ajaya Babu (silver in weightlifting), Bindyarani Devi (bronze in weightlifting), Shilpa Shyla (bronze in women's shot put F57), and Jhandu Kumar (bronze in para powerlifting).