Sharmila Dhankar won the gold medal in the women's shot put F57 para-athletics event at the 2026 Commonwealth Games [1].
The victory marks a historic milestone for Indian sports, ending a 20-year drought for gold medals in para-athletics at the Games [4].
Dhankar secured the top spot on Monday, July 27, with a throw of 9.81 meters [2, 3]. The event took place at the Scottish Event Campus in Glasgow, Scotland [5]. Her performance was a season-best mark that outpaced the rest of the field to secure the gold [1].
Reports vary on the exact nature of the achievement. Some sources said this is India's first-ever para-athletics gold medal, while others said it is the first in 20 years [4]. Additionally, Dhankar is noted as the first Indian woman to win a para-athletics medal at the Games, or specifically the first to win a gold [5].
The F57 category is designed for athletes with impaired muscle power or limb deficiency who compete in a seated position. Dhankar's victory in Glasgow places her among the elite of the Commonwealth's para-sporting community, a feat that highlights the growing investment in India's para-athletics programs.
This result is part of a broader medal push for India during the 2026 Games. The achievement at the Scottish Event Campus serves as a benchmark for other Indian para-athletes competing across various disciplines this week.
“India's first para-athletics gold in 20 years”
Dhankar's gold medal signifies a shift in the competitive standing of India's para-athletics. By breaking a two-decade gold medal drought, the result suggests that targeted training and support for seated-throw events are yielding international results, potentially inspiring increased funding and visibility for other para-sport disciplines within the country.
