Sharmila Dhankar has made history at the Commonwealth Games 2026 in Glasgow, securing India‘s first-ever gold medal in para-athletics. Competing in the women’s Shot Put F57 event, Dhankar achieved a season-best throw of 9.81 metres at Scotstoun Stadium. This achievement marks the end of India‘s 20-year wait for a para-athletics gold at the Commonwealth Games.
Dhankar‘s teammate, Shilpa K Shyla, also earned a bronze medal in the same event, contributing to a rare double-podium finish for India. The F57 category is designated for athletes with lower limb impairments or reduced muscle power. Dhankar‘s victory has been met with praise from President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, with Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya also acknowledging the feat.
Weightlifting and Swimming Progress for India
In weightlifting, Nirupama Devi Seram began her campaign in the Women’s 63kg final. She successfully lifted 93kg in her second snatch attempt, placing her fifth after the snatch round. Seram initially registered 115kg for her opening clean and jerk attempt, later raising it to 123kg. She aims to improve her position in the clean and jerk to contend for a medal.
Canada‘s Maude Charron leads the Women’s 63kg final after setting a Commonwealth Games record with a 102kg snatch. Femily-Crystie Notte of Nauru is in second with 100kg, followed by Australia‘s Kiana Rose Elliott with 99kg.
India‘s weightlifters have already accumulated six medals at the Games, comprising one gold, four silver, and one bronze. Following Seram‘s event, Harjinder Kaur is scheduled to compete in the Women’s 69kg final, aiming to further increase India‘s medal count.
In swimming, India saw success with both para swimmers, RVVBK Budigina and Ali Imam, qualifying for the Men’s 50m Freestyle S13 final. Budigina finished third in Heat 1 with a time of 26.33 seconds, while Imam clocked 28.41 seconds to place fifth in Heat 2, both securing spots in the medal race.
Srihari Nataraj also advanced to the semifinals of the men’s 100m backstroke, finishing fifth in Heat 4 with a time of 55.58 seconds. The top 16 swimmers from all heats progress to the semifinals.
However, Sajan Prakash did not qualify for the semifinals in the men’s 50m butterfly. Competing in Heat 9, he finished last in his race with a time of 24.94 seconds, placing him 28th overall among 70 swimmers. A time quicker than 24.25 seconds was needed for qualification.
Boxing and Overall Medal Tally
India‘s boxing contingent is set for a busy evening with five quarterfinal contests. Preeti Pawar, Priya Ghanghas, Parveen Hooda, Jadumani Singh, and Kapil Pokhariya are all one victory away from securing at least a bronze medal by reaching the semifinals.
After a six-medal haul on Monday, India aims to maintain its momentum. As of July 28, 2026, India ranks eighth in the medal table with two gold, five silver, and three bronze medals, bringing the total tally to 10 medals.
The Commonwealth Games 2026 are being held in Glasgow, Scotland, from July 23 to August 2, 2026, featuring athletes from 72 Commonwealth nations and territories.
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
Arjun Sharma
Sports Reporter