New Delhi, July 28: Moments after Sarvesh Kushare soared to history by becoming the first Indian high jumper to win a Commonwealth Games silver medal, another unforgettable chapter in Indian athletics was unfolding just a few metres away at the Scotstoun Stadium.
40-year-old Sharmila Dhankar stood inside the throwing circle knowing years of sacrifice had brought her to this moment. One powerful effort of 9.81m, her season’s best, was enough to script history as she became India’s first-ever Commonwealth Games para athletics gold medallist, ending the country’s 20-year wait for a para athletics medal at the Games.
The celebrations only got bigger moments later. Nigeria’s Zinabu Issah was disqualified after all her attempts were ruled fouls, promoting India’s Shilpa Kanchugarakoppalu Shyla to bronze and turning the event into a memorable gold and bronze finish for India.
But for Sharmila, the medal represented far more than a place atop the podium. It represented years of pain, poverty, abuse, financial struggle and unwavering belief.
‘This Gold Will Be a Game Changer’
Even as congratulatory messages, even from President Draupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi poured in, the Haryana para athlete admitted that the medal could transform not just her sporting career but her family’s future.
“I am extremely happy to have become the first Indian para athlete to clinch a gold medal at the Commonwealth Games. I hope to continue putting up good show in the upcoming events as well and win medals for my country,” Sharmila told in an interaction facilitated by Sports Authority of India (SAI).
For someone who still lives in rented accommodation in Rewari and has spent years worrying about funding her training, the historic achievement comes with hope.
“This gold definitely is going to be a game changer in my life. I hope this also puts an end to my financial struggle as we have faced a lot of hardships as a family. My mother and husband have been a pillar of my strength so far.”
The significance extends beyond personal recognition.
As India’s first Commonwealth para athletics champion, Sharmila believes the victory could open more doors for para athletes, bring greater attention to their achievements and perhaps finally provide her the financial stability that has remained elusive throughout her career. She also hopes the historic distinction helps her secure a government job after previously working briefly as a Haryana Roadways bus conductor.
A Gold Built on Extraordinary Sacrifices
Very few Commonwealth champions have travelled a road as difficult as Sharmila’s. Her father was a small farmer in Haryana’s Mahendergarh district, struggling to provide for four children. Her mother, who was visually impaired, raised the family despite enormous hardship. There were days when food itself was uncertain.
At the age of two, a viral fever changed her life forever. An injection administered by an unlicensed local practitioner worsened complications, leaving both her legs affected by disability following polio.
Growing up in Chitrauli village, she battled not just physical challenges but constant ridicule at school and within society.
Life became even more traumatic after marriage. Sharmila has openly spoken about surviving severe domestic violence in her first marriage, recalling one horrifying night when she was beaten continuously from 11 p.m. until 3 a.m. Eventually, she gathered the courage to leave the abusive relationship and rebuild her life.
Today, she describes her success as proof that circumstances need not define anyone’s future.
Family Sold Everything to Keep the Dream Alive
Behind the Commonwealth gold lies a story of remarkable family sacrifice. Sharmila dedicated her medal to her mother, whose belief in her never wavered.
“I want to dedicate my medal to my mother. She has sacrificed a lot and always supported me. She owned a piece of land which she sold to fund my journey. She got Rs 25 lakh by selling that land.”
Her husband Ajit made an equally emotional sacrifice. Facing mounting financial pressure to sustain her international career, he sold their family home in 2023, raising another Rs 10 lakh to support her training and competitions.
“We have seen a lot of hardships in the family but all that has made me strong and only motivated me to keep the fire in the belly burning. My husband Ajit has done a lot for me ever since he married and took good care of my daughters.”
While her mother sold farmland, Ajit gave up the family’s house. Together, they ensured Sharmila’s dream stayed alive.
From Heartbreak in Birmingham to Glory in Glasgow
This victory was also redemption. At the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, Sharmila finished fourth despite setting a national record of 8.43m.
Instead of disappointment, the near miss fuelled her ambition. “I finished fourth at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games in 2022 but was determined to do well.”
Her steady progression has been remarkable. She first announced herself by winning the National Championships with a national record of 7.40m before qualifying for Birmingham.
At the World Para Athletics Championships in New Delhi last year, she improved her national mark again with a 10.03m throw to finish fifth, showing she belonged among the world’s best. In Glasgow, all that experience culminated in the biggest medal of her career.
A Mother Chasing Three Gold Medals Under One Roof
While most champions begin celebrating immediately after reaching the top, Sharmila is already dreaming about the future. The 2030 Commonwealth Games in India have become her next target.
But she doesn’t want to arrive there alone. “At the Commonwealth Games 2030, I want that there are three gold medals under one roof as my daughters are also athletes.”
Her daughters have already begun following their mother’s path. Fifteen-year-old Anuj competes in javelin throw and has shown immense promise after winning the Under-16 North Zone Championships last year.
Thirteen-year-old Lakshmi has taken up long jump. The trio now trains together in Rewari, making athletics a family mission.
For Sharmila, nothing would compare to standing on the podium alongside her daughters in front of home supporters in 2030.
A Message for Women Athletes
Having endured poverty, disability and domestic violence before becoming a Commonwealth champion, Sharmila believes resilience is the greatest strength an athlete can possess.
Her advice to fellow women, particularly para athletes, was simple yet powerful. “Don’t get bothered by circumstances. Don’t get distracted. Keep yourself focused and nothing is unachievable.”
Those words carry weight because she has lived every one of them.
Government Support That Helped Build the Champion
While her family shouldered enormous financial sacrifices, Sharmila also acknowledged the support received through India’s high-performance programmes.
During the current Commonwealth Games cycle, she received Rs 10,97,447 under the Annual Calendar for Training and Competition (ACTC), along with financial assistance for national coaching camps, equipment and participation in major international competitions, including the 2023 Asian Para Games, the 2025 World Para Athletics Championships in New Delhi and the 2025 New Delhi Grand Prix.
Those interventions provided crucial support as she prepared for the biggest competition of her career.
More Than Just a Gold Medal
Sharmila Dhankar’s triumph is significant not merely because it delivered India’s first Commonwealth Games para athletics gold. It represents what Indian para sport has become – an arena where extraordinary perseverance is finally receiving the recognition it deserves.
For a woman who grew up in poverty, survived disability and domestic violence, watched her family sell their land and home to keep her dream alive, and still wondered whether she would ever find financial security, Glasgow was much more than the site of a sporting victory.
It was the moment years of sacrifice found their reward. And if Sharmila has her way, this historic gold will not be remembered as the peak of her career.
It will simply be the beginning of a legacy-one that she hopes will culminate in three Commonwealth gold medals under one roof in India in 2030, with a mother and her two daughters standing proudly together on the podium.
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