In Haryana, families watched from mobile phones during the dinner hour as Sharmila Dhankar hurled her shot to 9.81 metres. The throw sealed gold for India in Glasgow, her country's second of the 2026 Commonwealth Games. Her words afterward were direct: 'Asian Games and the Olympics are next.'
Dhankar, 40, is not new to the sport. She picked it up at 34 and climbed the ranks with a fury that saw her win the national title in 2021. Now, with Commonwealth Games gold around her neck, she’s set her sights higher.
More than a medal
Dhankar’s win wasn’t just about numbers. She dedicated the gold to her mother, speaking of shared dreams and a promise to 'keep winning many more.' Her victory pushed India’s medal count to ten, with fellow para-athlete Shilpa Shyla also climbing to bronze after another athlete was disqualified.
The double podium finish was a rare success for India. Dhankar and Shyla were the first Indian pair to share a Commonwealth podium in this discipline. The day’s haul gave India six medals—two gold, one silver, three bronze.
Dhankar's sights are firmly on the Asian Games and the Olympics. She said the Commonwealth gold was her 'first,' and she’s not done. If her 2021 national win and 2026 gold are any guide, the next chapter of her career will be written in record books.