Sharmila and Shilpa combined to form a historic double podium for India in women’s F57 shotput at the 2026 Commonwealth Games on Monday. While Sharmila became India’s first-ever gold medallist in para athletics at the quadrennial event, Shilpa clinched the bronze medal. Together, they are now the first Indian women to win a para athletics medal at the Commonwealth Games, whilst also ending the country’s 20-year wait for a medal at the Games in para athletics. F57 is a seating category event, where para athletes are strapped to a chair as they attempt to throw the shot put. Sharmila started her campaign with a 9.48m throw before improving it to 9.58m and then the eventual gold medal winning 9.81m with her third attempt. Her remaining three attempts read 9.17m, 9.37m, and 9.60m as she secured the gold medal quite comfortably. However, Shilpa’s road to the podium was anything but that. She initially finished fourth with a best of 7.26m and was upgraded to the bronze medal only following a protest, which disqualified Nigeria’s Eucharia Iyiazi …