India: Sharmila Dhankar secures historic para-athletics gold at Commonwealth Games
Dhankar’s Journey to Gold
Sharmila Dhankar has achieved a significant milestone by becoming India’s first-ever para-athletics gold medallist at the Commonwealth Games. Her victory in the women’s shot put F57 event, with a season-best throw of 9.81m, ended a 20-year wait for India in para-athletics medals at the Games. The last para-athletics medal for India at the Commonwealth Games was secured by Ranjith Kumar Jayaseelan in the men’s seated discus throw during the 2006 edition.
Dhankar’s path to this achievement began relatively late in her life, at the age of 34, when she was introduced to para sports. She contracted polio at the age of two, which affected her right leg. Her early life in Mahendragarh district, Haryana, was marked by poverty, with her mother being blind and her father working as a farmer.
Her personal life also presented significant challenges. Married at 19, Dhankar endured years of domestic abuse. She recounted an incident where she was beaten for several hours before being forced out of her home. Following this, she returned to her parents’ home with her two daughters, Anju and Lakshmi, who are now 15 and 13 respectively.
A turning point came with her second marriage. Her husband, Ajit Singh, encouraged her to pursue para sports and train under coaches Tek Chand and Devendra. In 2021, she made her debut at the Para National Championships, where she won a gold medal and set a national record.
Overcoming Hardship and Financial Struggles
Despite her sporting achievements, financial difficulties persisted for Dhankar and her family. To support her athletic career, the family made the difficult decision to sell their home in Rewari in 2023 and moved into rented accommodation. Dhankar expressed her hope that winning medals would enable her to purchase a new home.
Before her gold medal win at the Commonwealth Games, Dhankar had demonstrated strong performances in other international competitions. She finished fourth at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games in the previous year, narrowly missing a medal. In 2023, she again placed fourth at the Asian Para Games in Hangzhou. Additionally, she secured a fifth-place finish at the World Para Athletics Championships in New Delhi last year.
Her recent success at the Fazza International Para Athletics Championship in Dubai saw her win gold in shot put and bronze in discus, further building momentum for her Commonwealth Games appearance. The F57 classification in para-athletics is designated for athletes with lower limb impairments, limb deficiencies, or reduced muscle power.
Beyond her own athletic aspirations, Dhankar’s primary motivation is to provide her daughters with opportunities she did not have. Both Anju and Lakshmi are aspiring athletes; Anju competes in under-16 javelin throw, and Lakshmi is an under-14 long jumper. Dhankar hopes that sports will offer them a future free from the hardships she experienced.
India’s Strong Showing on Day 5
Sharmila Dhankar’s gold medal was part of a productive Day 5 for India at the Commonwealth Games, which saw the nation’s total medal count reach 10. The day’s events, which extended into the early hours, yielded six medals across athletics, para-athletics, and weightlifting.
In addition to Dhankar’s gold, India celebrated another significant achievement in para-athletics when Shilpa Shyla was awarded a bronze medal in the same women’s F57 shot put event. This upgrade followed a successful protest by India after officials ruled that Nigeria’s Eucharia Iyiazi had no valid mark, resulting in a memorable one-three finish for India in the event. Shyla had initially finished fourth with a personal-best throw of 7.26m.
Beyond para-athletics, Sarvesh Kushare made history by becoming the first Indian to win a silver medal in the men’s high jump at the Commonwealth Games, clearing 2.25m. This performance surpassed Tejaswin Shankar’s bronze from Birmingham 2022, making Kushare India’s most successful men’s high jumper at the Games. This silver medal also marked his first medal at a major multi-sport event.
Weightlifting continued to be a strong medal contributor for India, with three additional podium finishes. Valluri Ajaya Babu secured a silver medal in the men’s 79kg category, lifting a total of 330kg. Gyaneshwari Yadav also claimed silver in the women’s 53kg category with a combined lift of 199kg. Bindyarani Devi added a bronze medal in the women’s 58kg division, achieving a total of 199kg.
Other Indian athletes also progressed in their respective events. Boxers Sachin Siwach, Ankush, and Sakshi Chaudhary advanced to the quarterfinals, keeping their medal hopes alive. In long jump, M Sreeshankar and Lokesh Sathyanathan qualified for the final. Tejas Shirse became the first Indian to reach the men’s 110m hurdles final at the Commonwealth Games, although an injury impacted his performance in the final.
The success of athletes like Sharmila Dhankar highlights the resilience and determination within India’s sporting community, particularly in overcoming significant personal and financial obstacles to achieve international recognition. Her gold medal marks a historic moment for India in para-athletics at the Commonwealth Games.
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
Priya Menon 