TNI Bureau: India made history at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games as Sharmila Dhankar won gold in the women’s shot put F57 event, becoming the country’s first-ever Commonwealth Games para athletics gold medallist. Shilpa Shyla secured bronze, giving India two medals in the same para athletics event for the first time.
Dhankar claimed the gold with a season-best throw of 9.81 metres, while Shyla recorded a personal-best throw of 7.26 metres. The achievement also ended India’s 20-year wait for a para athletics medal at the Commonwealth Games.
Hailing from Haryana, Dhankar overcame polio and several personal challenges before taking up para athletics in 2020. After missing out on a medal at the Birmingham 2022 Games, she returned strongly to win gold in Glasgow.
Shyla, who is from Bengaluru, lost the use of one leg in a road accident during childhood. She was initially placed fourth but was later upgraded to bronze following the disqualification of Nigeria’s Eucharia Iyiazi.
The double podium finish marked a landmark achievement for Indian para athletics at the Commonwealth Games.
