Before Commonwealth Games Glory, Sharmila Dhankar Fought a Different Battle

Sharmila Dhankar's Commonwealth Games gold medal was the culmination of far more than one winning throw. The 40-year-old from Haryana became India's first para athlete to win Commonwealth Games gold and ended the country's 20-year wait for a para athletics medal, overcoming years of personal hardship to reach the top of the podium in Glasgow.

Dhankar produced a season-best effort of 9.81m to win the women's F57 shot put title on Monday, adding another milestone to India's growing success at the 2026 Commonwealth Games.

A breakthrough two decades in the making

India had not won a para athletics medal at the Commonwealth Games since para events were introduced, making Dhankar's victory a watershed moment for the country's para sports programme.

The significance of the achievement extends beyond the medal tally. It comes at a time when Indian para athletes continue to make steady gains on the global stage, with improved investment and support translating into international success.

For Dhankar, however, the journey began far from elite training centres.

Born in Chitrauli village in Haryana's Mahendergarh district, she grew up in a farming family with limited financial means. Her father owned a small piece of agricultural land, while her mother was visually impaired.

At the age of two, Dhankar contracted polio, leaving her with permanent damage to her left leg.

Years of adversity before a second chance

Dhankar's challenges continued into adulthood.

She was married shortly after completing Class 10 but later revealed that she endured years of domestic abuse. In an interview with Sportstar, she said she was repeatedly assaulted over dowry demands and later because she had given birth to two daughters.

"He used to get drunk. He would use drugs. I worked in the fields, and I took care of cattle. It was never enough. First, he beat me because I didn't bring the dowry he wanted. Then he beat me because I gave birth to two daughters," Dhankar told Sportstar.

She also recalled being forced out of her home after an assault when she was 26, after which she returned to live with her parents along with her daughters.

Following the separation, Dhankar worked as a cleaner, maid and security guard at a women's hospital near her village to support her family.

Sport became a turning point

A new chapter began after her second marriage to Ajit Singh, who encouraged her to take up para athletics.

His support helped Dhankar transition from daily wage work to competitive sport, eventually representing India on the international stage.

That journey reached its highest point in Glasgow, where her season-best throw secured a historic Commonwealth Games title.

More than a personal triumph

Dhankar's success reflects the increasing depth of Indian para athletics, but it also highlights how talent can emerge from unlikely places when opportunity arrives.

For Indian sport, her gold medal is another landmark achievement.

For Sharmila Dhankar, it is the reward for years spent overcoming circumstances that could easily have ended her sporting ambitions before they began.