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.