Commonwealth Games: Sharmila Dhankar wins historic para-athletics gold; India shines with multiple medals

Updated - July 28, 2026 05:34 am IST — Glasgow

PTI

Sharmila Dhankar scripted history by becoming India's first-ever Commonwealth Games para-athletics gold medallist, while high jumper Sarvesh Kushare and weightlifters Valluri Ajaya Babu and Gyaneshwari Yadav clinched a silver each, as the country enjoyed a rewarding day in the multi-sport event in Glasgow.

Sharmila's Landmark Gold

Sharmila delivered a landmark performance by winning the women's shot put F57 title with a season-best effort of 9.81m, becoming the first Indian to win a gold medal in para-athletics at the Games late on Monday night.

Her triumph ended India's 20-year wait for a para-athletics medal at the Games. The last para-athletics medal in CWG was won by Ranjith Kumar Jayaseelan in the men's seated Discus Throw event in the 2006 edition.

The F57 classification is for athletes with lower limb impairments, limb deficiencies or reduced muscle power.

Kushare Creates History in High Jump

Soon after, national record holder Kushare created history by becoming the first Indian to win a silver medal in the men's high jump at the Games.

The 31-year-old cleared 2.25m before narrowly missing out on gold on countback to Jamaica's Romaine Beckford after both failed to clear 2.28m. England's Jack Kimani took bronze with 2.20m.

Kushare improved upon the bronze won by Tejaswin Shankar in Birmingham four years ago, which had been India's only medal in the event. Tejaswin, who also competed on Monday, retired after failing to clear 2.05m in his opening attempt as a precaution ahead of the decathlon beginning later this week. Adarsh Ram finished fifth with 2.15m.

Lifters Continue Dominant Run

Weightlifting continued to be India's richest source of medals as 21-year-old Valluri Ajaya Babu clinched silver in the men's 79kg category after a gripping duel with Malaysia's Erry Hidayat Muhammad.

The Andhra Pradesh lifter totalled 330kg (149kg snatch and 181kg clean and jerk), narrowly missing the gold by a kilogram after Hidayat finished with a Games record total of 331kg (147kg and 184kg). The duo repeatedly rewrote the Games records during an enthralling clean and jerk contest before the Malaysian sealed victory with his final lift.

Ajaya Babu's silver took India's weightlifting tally to six medals at the Games.

India had already enjoyed a productive day on Monday (July 27, 2026) with Gyaneshwari Yadav winning silver in the women's 53kg event and Bindyarani Devi adding a bronze in the 58kg class.

• Gyaneshwari produced career-best lifts to total 199kg (88kg and 111kg), finishing behind Nigeria's Onome Omolola Didih, who rewrote the Commonwealth and Commonwealth Games records with a total of 206kg.
• Bindyarani fought hard but had to settle for bronze after finishing with 199kg (87kg and 112kg), while Nigeria's Rafiatu Folashade Lawal stormed to a record-breaking gold.

Boxers Inch Closer to Medals

The Indian boxers also kept themselves firmly in medal contention with Sachin Siwach, Ankush and Sakshi Chaudhary advancing to the quarterfinals of their respective categories.

• Former world youth champion Sachin defeated England's William Hewitt 4-1 in the men's 60kg division and will next meet Botswana's Treasure Moremi for a place in the semifinals.
• Ankush outclassed Jan Zalaan of Antigua and Barbuda 5-0 in the men's 80kg category to set up a quarterfinal against Seychelles' Jade Micock.
• Former world youth and junior champion Sakshi registered a unanimous 5-0 win over Botswana's Lethabo Modukanele in the women's 51kg event and will face Northern Ireland's Caitlin Fryers next.

However, Sumit bowed out after losing a closely-fought men's 70kg round of 16 contest 1-4 on split decision to Northern Ireland's Jon McConnell.

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