Mysuru: There was a time when she watched other children run and play while her father carried her in his arms. It wasn’t out of affection alone. After losing her left leg in a road accident, her family could neither afford treatment nor even a wheelchair for little Shilpa K S.Thirty-two years later, the girl from Kanchugara Koppalu village in Mysuru’s K R Nagar taluk has scripted an inspiring sporting story, winning bronze in the F57 shot-put at the ongoing Commonwealth Games in Glasgow on Monday night.Shilpa, now 36, produced a personal best of 7.26 metres. She had initially finished fourth but was elevated to the podium after Nigeria’s Eucharia Iyiazi was disqualified following an official review.Speaking to TOI. an emotional Shilpa thanked her family, coaches and well-wishers for standing by her through years of struggle.“Years of hard work, dedication and sacrifice have finally paid off. I have no words to explain how I feel. Initially, I was disappointed after finishing fourth, but when I was told that my position had been upgraded, I was overjoyed. This medal has given me the confidence to dream bigger,” she said.Shilpa’s journey to the Commonwealth podium has been one of extraordinary resilience. Born into a farmer family, she grew up unaware that para sport even existed. While curious glances and insensitive remarks became part of everyday life, her parents remained her greatest source of strength, ensuring she completed her education despite their limited means.Sport entered her life only in 2019. Then working as a Kannada teacher, Shilpa was introduced to para sport by a fellow bus passenger. She first excelled in sitting volleyball before former India para-volleyball player and coach Raghavendra S G recognised her potential and persuaded her to switch to athletics.The transition demanded immense sacrifice. Shilpa balanced teaching with gruelling training sessions before taking the bold decision to quit her job and pursue sport full-time. Under coach SD Eeshan at Bengaluru’s Sree Kanteerava Stadium, she developed into one of India’s most promising para throwers.The results followed quickly. She won silver in discus and bronze in javelin at an international meet in Thailand in 2023, claimed her first national shot-put medal in Goa in 2024, and struck gold at the 2025 World Para Athletics Grand Prix in New Delhi.Yet, even after reaching the international stage, financial challenges persisted. Shilpa continues to train using a basic Jaipur Foot prosthesis instead of a specialised sports prosthetic. She has set her sights on the 2028 Paralympic Games.Her mentor, Raghavendra, called the medal a fitting reward for Shilpa’s courage and perseverance. “Today, that risk has paid off. Her success will inspire countless aspiring para-athletes,” he said.
