Bhubaneswar: India celebrated a landmark day in para athletics at the Commonwealth Games as Sharmila Dhankar clinched gold in the women’s shot put F57 event, while Shilpa Kanchugarakoppalu Shyla was later elevated to the bronze medal position, securing the country’s first-ever double podium finish in a para athletics event at the Games.
Ending India’s 20-year wait for a para athletics medal at the Commonwealth Games, the 40-year-old Sharmila produced a season-best throw of 9.81 metres to claim the gold medal. With the victory, she became India’s first-ever Commonwealth Games para athletics champion and the first Indian woman to win a para athletics medal at the Games.
Moments after Sharmila’s historic triumph, India’s medal tally received another boost when Shilpa, who had initially finished fourth, was promoted to the bronze medal position following a review of the results.
Officials revised the performance of Nigeria’s Eucharia Iyiazi to a no-mark, resulting in Shilpa’s elevation to third place. The reason for the decision had not been officially confirmed at the time of writing.
The dramatic turn of events gave India its first-ever double podium finish in a para athletics event at the Commonwealth Games, marking a memorable chapter in the nation’s sporting history.
-OdishaAge
