HP CM Office Congratulates Para-Athletes on Medals
Synopsis
The Chief Minister's Office of Himachal Pradesh congratulated three para-athletes on 28 July 2026: Sharmila Dhankhar (gold, Women's Shot Put F57), Valluri Ajaya Babu (silver, Men's 79 kg Weightlifting), and Shilpa K. Shaila (bronze, Women's Shot Put F57), celebrating a rare triple-podium moment for Indian para-sport.
Key Takeaways
Sharmila Dhankhar won the gold medal in the Women's Shot Put F57 para-athletics event.
Shaila won the bronze medal in the same Women's Shot Put F57 event — two Indian athletes on the same podium.
Valluri Ajaya Babu claimed the silver medal in Men's 79 kg Weightlifting .
The Chief Minister's Office of Himachal Pradesh issued the congratulations on 28 July 2026 .
State governments increasingly use official social media to spotlight para-sport achievements alongside mainstream athletic results.
Three Indian para-athletes earned top-tier podium finishes, and the Chief Minister's Office of Himachal Pradesh made sure the country took notice — posting warm congratulations on Tuesday, 28 July 2026.
The official CMO account extended heartfelt congratulations to Sharmila Dhankhar for winning the gold medal in the Women's Shot Put F57 event, to Valluri Ajaya Babu for claiming the silver medal in Men's 79 kg Weightlifting, and to Shilpa K. Shaila for securing the bronze medal in the Women's Shot Put F57 category.
Sharmila Dhankhar's gold in the Shot Put F57 class — an event contested by athletes with impaired arm function or leg length difference who compete from a throwing frame — stands as the headline result of the three. Two athletes on the same podium in the same event is a rare double for Indian para-athletics.
State governments across India have increasingly used social media to amplify para-sport achievements, a shift that reflects both the growing profile of Indian para-athletes on the international stage and deliberate efforts to mainstream disability sport in public discourse. The CMO Himachal Pradesh's post fits squarely into that pattern — a public signal that these performances deserve the same visibility as any other medal.
No specific competition name was included in the post, but the achievements of all three athletes speak clearly: a gold, a silver, and a bronze across two disciplines on a single day.
Point of View
The post contributes to normalising para-athletics in mainstream sports coverage. It also signals that political offices see value in being associated with para-sport success, which can translate into pressure for stronger grassroots infrastructure and funding. Whether this visibility converts into concrete policy support for para-sports in Himachal Pradesh is the question worth watching.
NationPress
28 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Sharmila Dhankhar and what medal did she win?
Sharmila Dhankhar won the gold medal in the Women's Shot Put F57 para-athletics event, as congratulated by the Chief Minister's Office of Himachal Pradesh on 28 July 2026.
What is the Shot Put F57 classification in para-athletics?
The F57 classification is for athletes with impaired leg function or leg length difference who compete from a throwing frame in field events such as the shot put.
What medal did Valluri Ajaya Babu win?
Valluri Ajaya Babu won the silver medal in the Men's 79 kg Weightlifting category, as acknowledged by the Himachal Pradesh CMO.
Did two Indian athletes finish on the same podium in Women's Shot Put F57?
Yes. Both Sharmila Dhankhar (gold) and Shilpa K. Shaila (bronze) secured medals in the Women's Shot Put F57 event, placing two Indian para-athletes on the same podium.
Why did the Himachal Pradesh CM Office congratulate these athletes?
State governments in India routinely use official social media channels to publicly recognise para-athletes who win medals, reflecting efforts to promote inclusivity and mainstream disability sport in public discourse.
