Shilpa K Shyla Celebrates Historic Bronze at Commonwealth Games 2026
Shilpa K Shyla's Triumph at the Commonwealth Games
Glasgow [Scotland], July 28: Indian para-athlete Shilpa K Shyla expressed her overwhelming happiness after clinching her first medal at the Commonwealth Games, achieving a bronze in the women's shot put F57 event during the 2026 Games held in Glasgow.
Reflecting on her remarkable achievement, Shilpa shared, "This is my inaugural experience 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 at the camp. I sincerely thank the Government of India and the Government of Karnataka for their support."
Initially, Shilpa secured fourth place with a personal best throw of 7.26 meters, but 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.
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.
In an interview, Satyanarayana remarked, "Shilpa's training was exceptional, and her performance here surpassed her training efforts. This is a significant moment for Indian para-athletics, showcasing the immense talent present in rural India. I extend my heartfelt gratitude on Shilpa's behalf. She has a promising chance to secure a medal at the upcoming Para Asian Games."
With Shilpa's upgraded bronze, India's medal tally at the Games now stands at 10, comprising two gold, five silver, and three bronze medals.
Originating from Kanchigara Koppalu village in Karnataka's Mysuru district, Shilpa lost her left leg in a road accident at the age of four. She later pursued postgraduate studies and a Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.) before venturing into para-athletics, where she has progressively climbed the ranks to achieve her first Commonwealth Games medal.
India's medalists in Glasgow thus far 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, 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).