“A society that once questioned whether daughters should dream is now celebrating daughters who are bringing home gold. From small villages to international podiums, Indian women turned years of struggle into Commonwealth Games glory.”
By Upasna Yadav | Journalist | Suramya Post
New Delhi/Glasgow: India concluded its Commonwealth Games 2026 campaign with 39 medals, 13 gold, 17 silver and nine bronze, to finish fourth in the overall standings. Boxing led the medal rush, weightlifting maintained India’s dominance, judo created history and para-athletics delivered inspiring performances. But beyond the medal tally lies another story, one that speaks about changing aspirations, resilience and the rise of Indian women in sport.
For decades, women in India have had to fight battles outside the playing arena. Access to training, financial support, social acceptance and opportunities have often been limited. Yet, the athletes who stood on the podium in Glasgow demonstrated that determination can overcome circumstances.
Every medal carried a story
Some victories began in villages where sports infrastructure barely existed. Others were shaped by financial hardship, personal loss or years of silent sacrifice.
Mirabai Chanu, who won her third consecutive Commonwealth Games gold, once carried bundles of firewood through the hills of Manipur. The same strength that helped her family in childhood eventually made her one of India’s greatest weightlifters.
Asmita Dey, who created history as India’s first Commonwealth Games judo champion, is the daughter of a bicycle mechanic from Tripura. She started her sporting career as an 800-metre runner before discovering judo. Months after losing her father, she stood on top of the podium in Glasgow and fulfilled a dream he had always believed in.
Success built on ordinary beginnings
Not every champion comes from a sporting family or elite academy.
Harjinder Kaur grew up helping her family on their farm in Punjab. Long before she lifted barbells, she spent hours cutting fodder for cattle. That physical labour unknowingly built the strength that later earned her a Commonwealth silver medal.
Gyaneshwari Yadav, an Assistant Sub-Inspector with the Chhattisgarh Police, balanced public service with rigorous training before winning silver in weightlifting.
Bindyarani Devi, despite setbacks, injuries and category changes, continued rebuilding her career and added another Commonwealth medal to India’s tally through consistency and discipline.
Breaking stereotypes beyond the podium
The Games also highlighted stories that extended beyond medals.
After a serious knee injury, the COVID-19 pandemic and motherhood, Seema Kaliramna returned to international competition to win bronze in discus throw. While raising her son and pursuing a PhD, she rebuilt her athletic career, proving that motherhood need not mark the end of sporting ambition.
India’s para-athletes delivered equally powerful performances. Sharmila Dhankar clinched gold in the F57 shot put event, while Shilpa K. Shyla, who lost the use of one leg in a childhood road accident, secured bronze. Their achievements demonstrated that physical disability cannot limit determination or excellence.
Women led India’s boxing revolution
Indian women boxers produced one of the country’s most dominant performances in Glasgow.
Preeti Pawar, Sakshi Chaudhary, Jaismine Lamboria, Priya Ghanghas and Arundhati Choudhary returned with gold medals, while Olympic medallist Lovlina Borgohain added silver to India’s tally. Together, they established India as the strongest boxing nation at the Games and reflected the growing depth of women’s boxing across the country.
Judo also continued its rise, with Yamini Mourya winning silver and Unnati Sharma claiming bronze, further strengthening India’s emergence in the sport.
More than a medal tally
The Commonwealth Games 2026 will remember India for its 39 medals and fourth-place finish. Yet, those numbers tell only part of the story.
Behind every medal was a daughter who chose to dream despite limitations. Some came from farming families, some from small villages, some balanced government jobs with training, while others overcame injuries, disability or personal loss.
Their journeys remind us that the biggest victories are often achieved long before an athlete steps onto the podium.
In Glasgow, India’s women did more than contribute to the medal tally. They demonstrated that excellence knows no gender, no background and no boundary. Their performances have not only strengthened India’s standing in world sport but have also inspired countless young girls to believe that their dreams, too, deserve a place on the podium.
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