Sharmila Dhankar, once victim of domestic abuse, now has a CWG bronze

Sharmila Dhankar's CWG bronze is more than a sporting milestone. It is the story of a woman who overcame childhood polio and domestic abuse to rewrite her life through para athletics.Sharmila Dhankar won bronze in the women's Shot Put F57 at CWG 2026. (Photo: PTI)Sharmila Dhankar's long journey from surviving domestic abuse to becoming a Commonwealth Games medallist reached its defining moment on Tuesday, when she won bronze in the women's Shot Put F57 event in Glasgow. The 40-year-old from Haryana, whose left leg was impaired by polio at the age of two, produced a season-best throw of 9.81m to script a landmark achievement for Indian para-athletics.The medal was the biggest achievement of Dhankar's career and ended India's 20-year wait for a para-athletics gold medal at the Commonwealth Games. Speaking about her journey before leaving for Glasgow, the Indian para-athlete had said she hoped her story would encourage other women facing abuse to believe that life could change.Commonwealth Games 2026, Day 5: Highlights"I want women to find strength to fight domestic abuse. If I win a medal, my story might just inspire them to believe it's never really over," Sharmila had told Sportstar. "I'd never played any sport. And with my handicap, I couldn't even run. I was also 34 years old. I was going to start at an age where everyone else was ending their career. Despite all this, my husband was very insistent that we explore the idea," she had earlier told Sportstar, recalling how her husband Ajit Singh encouraged her to take up para athletics.Breaking barriers. Making history.A golden first for Indian Para Athletics.Sharmila Dhankar creates history, becoming India's first-ever Commonwealth Games gold medallist in Para Athletics with a throw of 9.81m.Watch the Commonwealth Games Glasgow 2026 LIVE & pic.twitter.com/32yp6fXm48— Sony Sports Network (@SonySportsNetwk) July 27, 2026Born in Chhithroli village in Haryana, Sharmila's left leg was affected by polio when she was just two years old. She was married at a young age and endured years of domestic abuse before returning to her family with her two children. Her life changed after she remarried Ajit Singh, who introduced her to para athletics in 2020 under coach Tek Chand. Within a year, she became national champion and steadily established herself among India's leading F57 throwers, winning gold at this year's Fazza International Para Athletics Championship before arriving in Glasgow.A MEDAL YEARS IN THE MAKING Dhankar had narrowly missed out on a medal at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games in 2022, where she finished fourth despite setting a national record. She also endured frustrating campaigns at the Asian Para Games and the World Para Athletics Championships, making Glasgow her biggest opportunity yet.She grabbed it with both hands. All six of her throws crossed the 9m mark, with her third-round effort of 9.81m proving enough to secure the bronze medal. It was her season's best performance and the reward for years of persistence after taking up the sport later than almost every athlete she competes against.STORY | CWG: Sharmila wins historic gold in para athletics as India shines with multiple medalsSharmila Dhankar scripted history by becoming India's first-ever Commonwealth Games para-athletics gold medallist, while high jumper Sarvesh Kushare and weightlifters Valluri Ajaya pic.twitter.com/U9kMZhsR7R— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) July 28, 2026Before the Games, Dhankar had spoken about wanting a medal to secure a government job and improve her family's financial situation after they made sacrifices to support her sporting career. Tuesday's result brought her that dream a step closer.Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated the Haryana para-athlete on her achievement, while her journey resonated far beyond the medal tally. From surviving childhood polio and an abusive marriage to becoming a Commonwealth Games medallist after starting her sporting career at the age of 34, Dhankar has rewritten her story through resilience and determination.- EndsPublished By: Debodinna ChakrabortyPublished On: Jul 28, 2026 14:40 IST