New Delhi. India’s Sharmila Dhankhar created history on Monday by winning the country’s first Para-athletics gold medal in the Commonwealth Games. She performed brilliantly and won the gold medal in the women’s shot put F57 event in Glasgow. Sharmila made the season’s best throw of 9.81 meters.
With Sharmila’s gold medal, India’s 20-year wait for a Commonwealth Games medal in Para Athletics also ended. Sharmila’s gold medal has given India its second gold in these games.
In the same event, another Indian player Shilpa Shayla won the bronze medal. However, Shilpa’s medal was confirmed after a very dramatic incident. Shilpa had achieved her personal best of 7.26 meters and had initially stood fourth. Whereas Nigeria’s Eucharia Iyeji was initially given the bronze medal.
However, following an objection by India, an official review took place and the Nigerian player’s only legal throw was declared a foul. After this, Shilpa was upgraded from fourth place to third place and given a bronze medal.
After receiving the medal, Shilpa became emotional and tears welled up in her eyes. He celebrated this historic achievement with Sharmila. However, there is also a possibility of counter protest from Nigeria against this decision.
Let us tell you that F57 classification is for those para athletes who have disability in lower limbs, lack of limbs or lack of muscle strength. Sharmila had polio in her left leg at the age of two. He also won the gold medal in the Faza International Para Athletics Championship this year. She has also participated in the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games, where she finished fourth.
Valluri Ajay Babu won silver in weightlifting
Valluri Ajay Babu also performed brilliantly in India’s medal campaign and won the silver medal in the men’s 79 KG weightlifting event. He lifted a total weight of 330 kg and missed the gold medal by just one kg. Ari Hidayat Muhammad of Malaysia won the gold medal with a total weight of 331 kg.
This achievement of Valluri Ajay Babu is also special because he has taken the achievement of his father Srinivasa Rao one step further. His father won the bronze medal in the men’s 56 KG weightlifting event at the 2010 Delhi Commonwealth Games. Now after 16 years, his son has taken the family’s medal tradition forward by winning the silver medal.
Valluri came very close to the gold medal, but remained just one kilogram behind Ari Hidayat Muhammad. The match was very exciting till the last lift and the Indian player had to be satisfied with the silver medal. With this, India’s total medal count has now become 10, which includes 2 gold.
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