While this gold medal signified a pivotal moment in her career, Dhankhar’s path to the podium was fraught with challenges. Let’s explore her early experiences and marriage hardships as she emerged as India’s para-athletics star.
Who is Sharmila Dhankhar?
Hailing from Chitrauli village in Haryana’s Mahendragarh district, she grew up in a family facing financial difficulties. Her father worked as a small farmer, and her mother, who was visually impaired, took care of the household despite their limited resources, as noted by Sportstar.
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At the tender age of two, Dhankhar contracted polio, which permanently impacted her left leg due to a lack of timely medical assistance in her village. Nevertheless, she refused to let her disability dictate her future.
Her challenges intensified after a young marriage, during which she reportedly faced years of domestic violence linked to dowry expectations. In her mid-twenties, she made the difficult decision to leave her marital home with her two daughters, returning to her parents. Eventually, she found a supportive partner in Ajit Singh, whose encouragement played a crucial role in her journey to rebuild her life.
Sharmila Dhankhar’s major achievements and career milestones
Dhankhar ventured into para-athletics only in her mid-thirties. She began competing at age 34 in the F57 category for shot put and discus throw, quickly rising to prominence as one of India’s top para-athletes.
Her career breakthrough occurred at the 2021 Para National Championships, where she won gold in her debut event and set a national record with a throw of 7.40m. Her ascent continued with another gold at the 2025 Indian Open Para Athletics Championships in Bengaluru, where she achieved a throw of 9.77m.
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At the 2026 Fazza International Para Athletics Championships in Dubai, she excelled with a gold in shot put and a bronze in discus.
Dhankhar also represented India at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, narrowly missing a medal, but setting a national record with an 8.43m throw. She followed this with a fourth-place finish at the 2023 Asian Para Games in Hangzhou.
Her ultimate triumph came in Glasgow, where her impressive 9.81m throw clinched the Commonwealth Games gold medal. Ghana’s Zinabu Issah won silver with 8.65m, while Nigeria’s Eucharia Iyiazi took bronze with 8.19m. Fellow Indian Shilpa finished in fourth place.
