Sharmila Dhankar created history on Monday by becoming the first Indian para athlete to win a gold medal in athletics at the Commonwealth Games, claiming the top spot in the women's F57 shot put event.

The 40-year-old delivered a season-best throw of 9.81 metres, securing India's maiden gold medal in Commonwealth Games para athletics and ending the country's two-decade wait for a medal in the discipline.

The landmark achievement marked another milestone for India's growing success in international para sports.

Season-Best Throw Seals Historic Gold

Dhankar remained consistent throughout the competition before producing her best effort of 9.81m, which proved enough to secure the gold medal.

Competing in the F57 classification, which includes athletes with lower-limb impairments, limb deficiencies or reduced muscle power, the Indian athlete outperformed a competitive field to finish at the top of the podium.

Her victory also came after an impressive season that included a gold medal at the Fazza International Para Athletics Championship earlier this year.

India Adds Bronze After Successful Protest

India's medal tally in the event increased after Shilpa Shyla was upgraded to the bronze medal following a successful protest by the Indian contingent.

Shyla had initially finished fourth despite recording a personal-best throw of 7.26 metres.

Nigeria's Eucharia Iyiazi, who was originally placed third, lost her bronze medal after officials reviewed the competition and ruled that her only valid throw was a foul.

Following the review, Shyla was elevated to the bronze medal position.

Reports suggested that Nigeria could file a counter protest against the decision.

Emotional Celebration for Indian Athletes

The revised result sparked emotional scenes as Shyla celebrated alongside Dhankar after officially being awarded the bronze medal.

India thus finished the women's F57 shot put event with two medals, adding further significance to Dhankar's historic gold-medal performance.

Journey of Determination

Dhankar contracted polio in her left leg at the age of two but continued pursuing athletics despite physical challenges.

She represented India at the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games, where she narrowly missed a podium finish after ending fourth.

Her gold-medal performance in Glasgow marks a significant improvement and establishes her among India's leading para athletes on the international stage.

Major Milestone for Indian Para Sports

Dhankar's victory is expected to provide further momentum to India's para athletics programme, which has witnessed rapid progress in recent years across Paralympic and international competitions.

The historic achievement also highlights the increasing depth of Indian para sport, with athletes continuing to deliver strong performances at major global events.

Sharmila's victory was one of the standout moments of India's most successful day at the Games so far. Alongside her triumph, fellow Indian Shilpa K. Shyla secured bronze in the same event after an official review upgraded her finishing position, giving India its first-ever double podium finish in Commonwealth Games para athletics.

Behind the historic achievement lies a remarkable story of resilience and determination.

Born in Chitrouli village of Haryana's Mahendragarh district, Sharmila contracted polio at the age of two, leaving one of her legs permanently affected. Her father was a marginal farmer while her mother is visually impaired. Financial hardship meant she never received advanced medical treatment, and she was married at a young age.

Her personal struggles continued after marriage. According to accounts shared by Sharmila, she was abandoned by her first husband at the age of 26 and returned to her parental home with her two daughters. A few years later, she married Ajit, who encouraged her to pursue para athletics after reading about para sport in a newspaper.

Sharmila entered competitive para athletics relatively late. At the age of 34, she began training in the seated Shot Put F57 category under coaches Tek Chand and Devendra in Rewari. However, pursuing professional sport came at a significant financial cost.

In 2023, her family reportedly sold their house to fund her training, forcing them to move into rented accommodation. Despite the sacrifices, Sharmila continued preparing for national and international competitions without interruption.

Before taking up para athletics, Sharmila had briefly worked as Haryana Roadways' first woman bus conductor during the employees' strike in 2018. The appointment lasted only for the duration of the strike, after which her job ended. The experience, however, strengthened her resolve to build a career through sport.

Her performances steadily improved over the following years. She represented India at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games in 2022 before winning gold at the Fazza International Para Athletics Championship earlier this year, establishing herself among India's leading para throwers.

The Commonwealth Games gold is the biggest achievement of her career so far.

Following her victory, Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini congratulated the athlete, while tributes poured in across the country for her inspiring journey from adversity to international success.

Speaking after the event, Sharmila dedicated the medal to her mother and said she hoped to continue bringing honours to India at future international competitions, including the Asian Games and the Paralympics.

Her success has become one of the defining stories of India's Commonwealth Games campaign, demonstrating how perseverance, family support and determination helped transform years of hardship into a historic sporting milestone.