India, July 28 -- Sharmila Dhankar proved that determination can triumph over adversity as the Indian para-athlete scripted history by winning a gold medal at the 2026 Commonwealth Games, becoming the country's first-ever para-athletics gold medallist at the event.

In arguably the finest moment of her career, Dhankar clinched the gold in the women's Shot Put F57 event with a season-best throw of 9.81 metres, ending India's two-decade wait for a Commonwealth Games gold in para-athletics.

Even before leaving for Glasgow, she had made her determination clear.

"I'm traveling so far. I can't come back with nothing," she had told Sportstar.

Her journey from a small village in Haryana to standing atop the Commonwealth Games podium is one of ...