CWG 2026: Shilpa Shyla gets bronze after Nigerian athlete disqualified in women's shotput F57
Glasgow, July 28
Indian para-athlete Shilpa Shyla won a bronze medal in the women's shot put F57 event at the 2026 Commonwealth Games after Nigeria's Eucharia Iyiazi was disqualified following an official review, handing India its first double podium finish of the Glasgow Games.
Shilpa had originally finished fourth with a personal best throw of 7.26 metres, but moved onto the podium after Iyiazi's result was struck off, according to ESPN. The revised standings saw fellow Indian Sharmila Dhankar retain the gold medal with a season-best effort of 9.81m, while Ghana's Zinabu Issah took silver with 8.65m.
The bronze increased India's medal tally to 10 medals at the Games -- two gold, five silver and three bronze medals.
Shilpa's medal also marked a significant personal milestone for the Karnataka para-athlete, whose journey to the Commonwealth podium has been shaped by resilience and perseverance.
Born in Kanchigara Koppalu village in Mysuru district, Shilpa lost her left leg at the age of four after being hit by a speeding truck. Despite the life-altering accident, she pursued her education, completed a postgraduate degree and a Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.), and initially worked as a school teacher before taking up para-athletics.
Her personal best throw of 7.26m in Glasgow initially left her just outside the medals, but the official review and subsequent disqualification of the Nigerian athlete elevated her to a well-deserved bronze, giving India its first double podium finish of the 2026 Commonwealth Games in a single event.
The women's shot put F57 competition was dominated by Sharmila Dhankar, who continued her dream run by winning gold with a season-best throw of 9.81m. The 40-year-old Haryana para-athlete produced the standout performance of the final, while Issah claimed silver for Ghana.
India's medal winners in Glasgow so far are Mirabai Chanu (gold, weightlifting), Sharmila Dhankar (gold, women's shot put F57), Rishikanta Singh (silver, weightlifting), Muthupandi Raja (silver, weightlifting), Gyaneshwari Yadav (silver, weightlifting), Sarvesh Kushare (silver, men's high jump), Valluri Ajaya Babu (silver, weightlifting), Bindyarani Devi (bronze, weightlifting), Shilpa Shyla (bronze, women's shot put F57) and Jhandu Kumar (bronze, para powerlifting).
— ANI
Reader Comments
Heartwarming to see India dominate in para athletics. Sharmila Dhankar with another gold, and Shilpa getting a deserved bronze after the review. The journey from a small village in Mysuru to the Commonwealth podium is absolutely incredible. Salute to these athletes! 🏅
So proud of our Indian women dominating in shot put! Shilpa's story is truly inspiring – from being a teacher to a medalist, she proves that with determination anything is possible. The disqualification of the Nigerian athlete is unfortunate but rules are rules. Good to see India's medal tally growing!
Excellent performance by our para-athletes! Two Indians on the podium in the same event – that's unheard of in Commonwealth Games history. Sharmila Dhankar with 9.81m is world-class. Shilpa's bronze through disqualification might be bittersweet but she deserves it for her dedication. More power to our para sports community!
India's para-athletes are truly rewriting the narrative. Shilpa's journey from a tragic accident to the podium is what makes sport so compelling. She didn't just win bronze; she won hearts. And Sharmila's gold cements her legacy. This is the kind of news that makes every Indian proud. 🙏
Great to see India doing well in the Commonwealth Games. But let's not forget that this bronze came from a disqualification – while it's a medal, the focus should be on creating more opportunities for para-athletes in grassroots programs. Shilpa's story shows the spirit is there, but we need more
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