Indian para athlete Sharmila Dhankhar delivered a stellar performance at the 2026 Commonwealth Games held in Glasgow, Scotland, etching her name in sporting history. Competing in the F57 event, she recorded a season-best throw of 9.81 meters to secure the gold medal. This monumental achievement also ends India's 20-year wait for a medal in para athletics at the multi-sport event, marking her as the country's first-ever para athletics gold medalist at the Games.
Early Life and Roots in Mahendragarh
Sharmila Dhankhar hails from Chitrauli village in the Mahendragarh district of Haryana. Her struggles began at a very tender age when she contracted polio at just two years old, which affected one of her legs. Coming from a family of a modest farmer, her father lacked the financial resources required for proper medical treatment. Compounding these hardships, her mother was visually impaired. Growing up in severe poverty and destitution, she was married off at a young age.
Marital Struggles and Return to Parental Home
The difficulties for the athlete from an impoverished background did not cease after her wedding. She faced years of harassment over dowry demands and endured severe domestic violence. By the time she turned 26, her husband threw her out of the house. Having given birth to two daughters by then, she was compelled to return to her father's residence along with both her children under distressing circumstances.
A New Beginning and Entering Sports at 28
Leaving behind the trauma of her first marriage and shouldering the responsibility of raising her children, Sharmila entered into a second marriage at the age of 28 with a man named Ajit. This union proved to be a turning point in her life. Her husband Ajit extended immense support and encouragement. Upon learning about para athletics through a newspaper, Ajit urged Sharmila to explore her potential in the sport and pursue a career in athletics.
