CWG 2026: Sharmila Dhankhar wins India’s first gold medal in para-athletics with a throw of 9.81 meters

Emotional Shilpa celebrates with Sharmila after medal change announcement

Glasgow. Sharmila Dhankhar won India’s first gold medal in para athletics at the Commonwealth Games on Monday in the women’s shot put F57 event.

Forty-year-old Sharmila won the gold medal with a season’s best throw of 9.81 metres, ending India’s 20-year wait for a para athletics medal at the Commonwealth Games. In this event, another Indian player Shilpa Shayla was awarded the bronze medal after controversy. Shilpa had a personal best throw of 7.26 metres.

Nigeria’s Eucharia Iyeji was initially in bronze medal position, but her only valid attempt was fouled following an objection by the Indian contingent and an official review. After this, Shilpa Shayla, who stood fourth, got the bronze medal.

However, Nigeria is likely to file an objection against this decision. An emotional Shilpa celebrated with Sharmila after the medal change was announced. In this way India won two medals in this event. The F57 category is for players who have lower limb disability, lack of limbs or lack of muscle strength.

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