GLASGOW, Jul 28: Sharmila Dhankar created history by becoming India’s first-ever Commonwealth Games para-athletics gold medallist as India enjoyed another successful day at the Commonwealth Games, adding a gold and three silver medals across para athletics, athletics and weightlifting.
Sharmila clinched gold in the women’s shot put F57 event with a season-best throw of 9.81m, ending India’s 20-year wait for a para-athletics medal at the Commonwealth Games. Shilpa K. Shyla added to the celebrations by winning bronze in the same event.
In athletics, Sarvesh Kushare became the first Indian to claim a silver medal in the men’s high jump after clearing 2.25m. He narrowly missed the gold on countback to Jamaica’s Romaine Beckford.
Weightlifting continued to deliver medals for India, with Valluri Ajaya Babu securing silver in the men’s 79kg category after lifting a combined 330kg, finishing just one kilogram behind Malaysia’s Erry Hidayat Muhammad, who set a Games record.
Gyaneshwari Yadav also won silver in the women’s 53kg event with a career-best total of 199kg, while Bindyarani Devi claimed bronze in the women’s 58kg category.
Indian boxers kept their medal hopes alive as Sachin Siwach, Ankush and Sakshi Chaudhary advanced to the quarterfinals of their respective weight categories with impressive victories. However, Sumit exited the competition after losing a closely contested pre-quarterfinal bout.
In athletics, Gurindervir Singh failed to qualify for the men’s 100m semifinals, while Tejas Shirse became the first Indian to reach the Commonwealth Games men’s 110m hurdles final but finished eighth after competing despite suffering a navicular stress fracture during the warm-up.
In swimming, Sajan Prakash and Aryan Nehra finished eighth in their respective finals, while para swimmer Swatik Patil placed fifth in the men’s 100m breaststroke SB9 event.
