Shilpa K Shyla Celebrates Historic Bronze at Commonwealth Games 2026

Shilpa K Shyla's Joyous Achievement

Indian para-athlete Shilpa K Shyla expressed her overwhelming happiness after clinching her first medal at the Commonwealth Games, a bronze in the women's shot put F57 event held in Glasgow in 2026. Reflecting on her experience, Shilpa shared, "This is my debut at the Commonwealth Games, and I am filled with joy. Words cannot capture my feelings. I am grateful to everyone who has supported me, especially Satyapal sir, my coaches Eshan SD sir and Raghavendra sir, and Pushpa ma'am, who was with us during the camp. I sincerely thank the Government of India and the Government of Karnataka for their support."

From Fourth to Bronze: A Remarkable Turnaround

Initially, Shilpa secured fourth place with a personal best throw of 7.26 meters. However, she was later awarded the bronze medal after Nigeria's Eucharia Iyiazi was disqualified following a review. The updated results confirmed that fellow Indian athlete Sharmila Dhankar maintained her gold medal position with a season-best throw of 9.81 meters, while Ghana's Zinabu Issah took home the silver with a throw of 8.65 meters, marking India's first double podium finish at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games.

Coach Celebrates a Milestone for Indian Para-athletics

KR Satyanarayana, the head coach of the Indian para-athletics team under the Paralympic Committee of India (PCI), commended Shilpa's commitment and expressed confidence in her future success. He remarked, "Shilpa's hard work and favorable conditions contributed to her success. Sharmila also won gold in the same event, and both athletes trained together at the Sports Authority of India (SAI) in Bengaluru. This is a significant moment for Indian para-athletics, showcasing the talent present in rural India. I extend my heartfelt gratitude on Shilpa's behalf. She has trained diligently over the past six months with the aim of winning a Commonwealth medal and exceeded expectations here. I am personally thrilled as her coach, and I believe she has a strong chance of medaling at the upcoming Para Asian Games."

An Inspiring Journey

Shilpa's upgraded bronze medal contributes to India's total of 10 medals at the Games, which includes two gold, five silver, and three bronze. Hailing from Kanchigara Koppalu village in Mysuru district, Karnataka, Shilpa lost her left leg in a road accident at the age of four. She later completed her postgraduate studies and a Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.) before pursuing para-athletics, where she has made significant strides to achieve her first Commonwealth Games medal.

India's Medal Winners in Glasgow

The following athletes have won medals for India in Glasgow: 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, men's high jump), Valluri Ajaya Babu (silver, weightlifting), Bindyarani Devi (bronze, weightlifting), Shilpa Shyla (bronze, women's shot put F57), and Jhandu Kumar (bronze, para powerlifting).