Commonwealth Games 2026: Jhandu Kumar wins bronze in men's heavyweight para-powerlifting
(Courtesy : @yashodhararaje/Twitter/X)
India’s para-powerlifting contingent provided mixed results on the opening day of the Commonwealth Games 2026, with Jhandu Kumar stealing the spotlight as he helped the country claim a bronze medal in the men’s heavyweight category.
Competing in a tough two-group field, Kumar topped his group with a best effort of 130.9 points, lifting 190 kg to seal his place on the podium.
In the combined standings, Nigeria’s Riluwan Idris took gold with 132.8, while England’s Matthew Harding edged out the Indian for silver by the barest of margins (0.1 points).
For the 29-year-old from Harnaut in Bihar’s Nalanda district, the medal caps a remarkable journey. Affected by polio since birth and raised by a vegetable vendor father, Kumar first started off in para-athletics before switching to powerlifting after being spotted at a state championship.
Related: Commonwealth Games 2026: India’s updated schedule for today Day 1 (July 24)
Training under coach Rajinder Singh Rahelu, he set a national record of 206 kg at the Khelo India Para Games last year, and backed it up with bronze medals at the Beijing World Cup and the Asian & Oceania Championships earlier this year.
While Kumar brought good news, last edition’s gold medallist Sudhir failed to repeat his heroics, as he finished sixth in the same event.
Ashok Malik narrowly missed the podium in the men’s lightweight event, finishing fourth despite lifting a personal best of 200 kg. Parmjeet Kumar finished seventh in the same event as Malik.
Jaspreet Kaur, Suman Devi and Kasthuri Rajamani also featured across the lightweight and heavyweight categories through the day, but were unable to make their mark.
Kaur and Devi ended sixth and seventh respectively, while Rajamani could not register a valid lift in the women’s heavyweight final.
Who is Jhandu Kumar?
Jhandu Kumar is a para-powerlifter from Bihar who compete in the men’s 72kg category [heavyweight]. Son of a vegetable vendor, he has been affected by polio since birth. He became India’s first medallist at the 2026 Commonwealth Games, after winning a bronze medal.
What medal did Jhandu Kumar win at the Commonwealth Games 2026?
Jhandu Kumar clinched a bronze medal in the men’s heavyweight category after scoring 130.9 points, with a best lift of 190kg.
Who is India’s first medallist at Commonwealth Games 2026?
Jhandu Kumar, who clinched a bronze medal in para-powerlifting, is India’s first medallist at the Games in Glasgow.
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Aniruddh Seshadri Iyer is a passionate sports journalist at Khel Now, specializing in tennis and Olympic sports. An engineer by training, he found his storytelling passion through iconic Grand Slam and Olympic moments. Known for sharp analysis and insightful coverage, he draws inspiration from Novak Djokovic’s resilience. Outside journalism, he enjoys reading, traveling, and playing the guitar.