'I was beaten from 11 pm to 3 am': How Sharmila Dhankar overcame marriage abuse to script CWG history
Sharmila Dhankar has become India's first-ever Commonwealth Games para-athletics gold medallist, winning the women's shot put F57 title. Her victory marks a remarkable personal journey from overcoming domestic abuse and poverty to achieving international sporting success at age 40.
Why it matters
This achievement highlights the growing prominence of para-sports in India and serves as a powerful narrative of resilience, demonstrating how sports can provide a pathway for personal and social transformation.
New Delhi: For Sharmila Dhankar, every throw carries the weight of a life rebuilt. From growing up in poverty in Haryana’s Mahendragarh district and surviving domestic abuse in her first marriage to selling the family home to sustain her sporting dream, the 40-year-old para shot putter has turned adversity into ambition as she prepares for her second Commonwealth Games (CWG).On Monday night, Sharmila scripted history by becoming India's first-ever COmmonwealth Games para-athletics gold medallist. She delivered a landmark performance by winning the women's shot put F57 title with a season-best effort of 9.81m, ending the nation's 20-year wait for a para-athletics medal at the Games.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in