[Amit Shah Mumbai Samachar]
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Glasgow (Scotland): India celebrated another memorable moment at the Commonwealth Games as one extraordinary woman delivered a historic gold medal for the country. Behind her success lies a story of struggle, resilience and determination that is truly inspiring.
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There was a time when, unable to bear the mental trauma and hardships of life, she had decided to end her life along with her two daughters. Fate, however, had different plans. She changed her decision, fought every battle that came her way and eventually became a Commonwealth Games champion.
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Sharmila strikes gold in shot put
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On Monday night, after winning the gold medal for India at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games, the sparkle in Sharmila Dhankhar’s eyes reflected the incredible journey she had travelled. It was as if her entire life—from being a woman battling endless struggles to becoming a gold-medal-winning para athlete for India—was flashing before her eyes like a movie. Sharmila scripted history by winning the women’s shot put title for India.
Historic achievement in para athletics
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The 40-year-old para athlete won the gold medal in the women’s F57 shot put event with a season’s best throw of 9.81 metres. Her victory ended India’s 20-year wait for a Commonwealth Games gold medal in para athletics. The F57 category is meant for para athletes with impairments or muscle weakness in their lower limbs.
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Polio changed her life at the age of two
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Sharmila, a resident of Chitrauli village in Haryana’s Mahendragarh district, faced immense challenges from early childhood. She was affected by polio at the age of two, leaving one of her legs permanently impaired. Her father was a small farmer who could not afford proper medical treatment, while her mother is visually impaired.
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Married at a young age
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Sharmila grew up in extreme poverty along with her three sisters and a younger brother who was ten years younger than her. Financial hardship forced her family to arrange her marriage at the age of 19 after she had studied only up to Class 10. Like every young girl, she hoped marriage would change her life for the better, but instead her struggles became even greater.
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Domestic violence and financial hardship
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To support her family, Sharmila worked as an ayah, cleaner and security guard at a women’s hospital. Her biggest challenge, however, was her husband’s alcohol addiction. With no in-laws to support her, she endured years of domestic violence and harassment over dowry demands. When she gave birth to her second daughter at the age of 26, her husband’s anger intensified because he wanted a son. One night he assaulted her for hours before throwing her and her daughters out of the house at around 3 a.m.
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With no other option, Sharmila returned to her parents’ home with her two daughters. Humiliated and broken, she even contemplated ending all their lives. Fortunately, destiny had something far greater in store for her.
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A second marriage transformed her life
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Putting behind the trauma of her first marriage and determined to raise her daughters, Sharmila remarried at the age of 28. Her second husband, Ajit, proved to be a blessing.
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Ajit, a motor mechanic by profession, came across a newspaper article about para athletes and encouraged Sharmila to try the sport. Although she had never participated in competitive athletics before, she followed his advice and contacted the principal of her SDM School, who guided her to begin training at Tularam Stadium.
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She took six years to enter para athletics and finally began training in shot put at the age of 34 under coaches Tekchand and Devendra. She chose the seated shot put event in the F57 category, but even then the journey was far from easy.
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Never gave up despite financial struggles
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Ajit’s financial condition was also modest, making it extremely difficult to meet the expenses of professional training. Yet Sharmila refused to give up. She became National Champion for the first time in 2021. To continue chasing her dream, she even sold her house in Rewari, Haryana, in 2023 and shifted to a rented accommodation to fund her training.
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PM Modi encouraged her
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Missing out on a medal at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games despite years of hard work was heartbreaking, but Sharmila once again chose perseverance over disappointment. Before the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had spoken to her for nearly 20 minutes and boosted her confidence. He told her, “At the age when you are competing, many athletes have already retired from sport.”
Also Read:CWG 2026: Sharmila Dhankar Creates History With Para Athletics Gold As India Bags Six Medals On Day 5, Tally Hits 10
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Medals followed one after another
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Inspired by the Prime Minister’s encouragement, Sharmila continued her remarkable rise. She performed brilliantly at the 2023 Asian Para Games and also won gold and bronze medals at the Dubai Fazza International Para Athletics Championships. Earlier, in 2021, she had won the National Para Athletics Championship gold medal while setting a new national record, earning nationwide recognition.
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Haryana’s first woman bus conductor
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Sharmila, who once became the first woman bus conductor in Haryana Roadways, resigned from her job to focus entirely on elite-level competition. Although she continues to receive offers to rejoin her job, her sole aim is to win medals for India. Olympic-level training costs her nearly ₹1 lakh every month, but several organisations now support her financially because of her exceptional talent and determination.
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Both daughters are promising athletes
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Following in their mother’s footsteps, both of Sharmila’s daughters have also taken up sports. Her elder daughter, Anuj, is an Under-16 North Zone National gold medallist in javelin throw, while her younger daughter, Lakshmi, competes in the Under-14 long jump category.
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Sharmila had always dreamed of buying her own house after winning a medal at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games. Now, with a historic gold medal around her neck, that dream appears closer than ever to becoming a reality.
