CWG 2026 Day 3 Round-Up: Sharmila Creates History with India's First Para Athletics Gold, Silver Rush Continues for India at Glasgow

Glasgow, July 28: India enjoyed one of its most successful days at the Commonwealth Games 2026, with Sharmila Dhankar creating history in para athletics, while Sarvesh Kushare, Valluri Ajaya Babu and Gyaneshwari Yadav added silver medals to swell the country's tally in Glasgow on Monday (July 27).

Weightlifting once again emerged as India's strongest discipline, athletics scripted memorable milestones, and the boxing contingent moved a step closer to securing medals.

The biggest headline of the day belonged to Sharmila Dhankar, who became India's first-ever Commonwealth Games para athletics gold medallist.

Competing in the Women's Shot Put F57, Sharmila produced a season-best throw of 9.81m to clinch gold, ending India's 20-year wait for a para athletics medal at the Commonwealth Games.

Her triumph was followed by another podium finish as Shilpa Kanchugarakoppalu Shyla earned bronze after her personal-best throw of 7.26m, giving India its first-ever double podium in a para athletics event at the Commonwealth Games.

Sarvesh Kushare Reaches Another Milestone

National record holder Sarvesh Kushare continued his remarkable season by becoming the first Indian man to win a Commonwealth Games silver medal in high jump.

The 31-year-old cleared 2.25m, missing out on gold only on countback after both he and Jamaica's Romaine Beckford failed to clear 2.28m.

The silver improved upon Tejaswin Shankar's bronze at Birmingham 2022 and marked yet another milestone in Kushare's extraordinary rise over the past year.

Fellow Indians Adarsh Ram finished fifth, while Tejaswin Shankar withdrew early as a precaution ahead of the decathlon competition.

Weightlifting Continues to Deliver

India's weightlifters once again delivered multiple medals.

Ajaya Babu Misses Gold by One Kilogram

Andhra Pradesh's Valluri Ajaya Babu produced a superb performance to claim silver in the Men's 79kg category.

The 21-year-old lifted 330kg (149kg snatch + 181kg clean & jerk) after setting a Commonwealth Games record in the snatch with 149kg.

Malaysia's Erry Hidayat Muhammad edged him by just one kilogram, finishing with a Games record total of 331kg. Ajaya's silver became India's sixth medal in weightlifting.

Gyaneshwari and Bindyarani Continue India's Success

Earlier, Gyaneshwari Yadav claimed silver in the Women's 53kg category with career-best lifts totalling 199kg, finishing behind Nigeria's Onome Omolola Didih, who rewrote both the Commonwealth and Games records.

Bindyarani Devi added another bronze in the Women's 58kg competition after lifting 199kg, while Nigeria's Rafiatu Folashade Lawal dominated the event with another record-breaking performance.

Indian Boxers March Towards Medals

India's boxing campaign gathered momentum with three more quarter-finalists.

Sachin Siwach defeated England's William Hewitt 4-1 in the Men's 60kg.
Ankush outclassed Jan Zalaan of Antigua and Barbuda 5-0 in the Men's 80kg.
Sakshi Chaudhary blanked Botswana's Lethabo Modukanele 5-0 in the Women's 51kg.

All three are now just one victory away from assuring themselves of Commonwealth Games medals.

However, Sumit bowed out after a narrow 1-4 split-decision defeat against Northern Ireland's Jon McConnell in the Men's 70kg Round of 16.

Mixed Fortunes on the Track

There was disappointment for Gurindervir Singh, whose Commonwealth Games debut ended in the men's 100m heats.

India's fastest sprinter clocked 10.39 seconds to finish 28th overall and miss out on a semi-final berth.

In contrast, Tejas Shirse scripted history by becoming the first Indian to qualify for a Commonwealth Games men's 110m hurdles final.

Unfortunately, the national record holder suffered a navicular stress fracture during warm-up and still chose to compete, finishing eighth in 15.39 seconds.

"I didn't want to pull out. I am the first Indian to qualify for the 110m hurdles final at the Commonwealth Games and didn't want to let the nation down," Shirse said after the race.

Swimmers Miss the Podium

India's swimmers were unable to add to the medal tally. Two-time Olympian Sajan Prakash finished eighth in the Men's 200m Butterfly, while Aryan Nehra also placed eighth in the Men's 800m Freestyle final.

In para swimming, Swatik Patil registered a fifth-place finish in the Men's 100m Breaststroke SB9 event.