Bihar para powerlifter delivers Indua’s first medal at the Glasglow Commonwealth Games afters years of overcoming financial hardship
New Delhi: India opened its medal account at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow after para powerlifter Jhandu Kumar clinched a historic bronze medal in the men’s heavyweight event.
Competing at a body weight of 72.4 kg, Kumar registered a best lift of 190 kg on his second attempt to finish third. He later attempted 196 kg, which would have set a new Commonwealth Games record, but narrowly missed the lift. The bronze marks India’s first medal of the Glasgow Games and its first podium finish in para powerlifting at the 2026 edition.
Hailing from Harnaut in Bihar’s Nalanda district, Kumar’s achievement capped a remarkable journey of resilience. Born with polio, he battled financial hardship, selling vegetables to fund his training before being spotted by Paralympic bronze medallist Rajinder Singh Rahelu, who guided him at the Sports Authority of India National Centre of Excellence in Gandhinagar.
Speaking after the event, Kumar said, “I feel as if I’m flying. This is my first medal. Only one thing was going through my mind: that I have to win the medal.” He also credited the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) and the Sports Authority of India (SAI) for supporting his preparation.
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