Guwahati: India opened its medal account at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow on Saturday, with para powerlifter Jhandu Kumar securing a bronze medal in the men’s heavyweight final.
The Nalanda, Bihar-born athlete delivered an impressive performance by lifting 190kg in his second attempt, earning 130.9 points to finish on the podium. He successfully lifted 181kg in his opening attempt before improving to 190kg.
Jhandu then attempted 196kg in his final lift, which would have surpassed the Commonwealth Games record set at the Birmingham 2022 edition. However, he was unable to complete the lift, settling for bronze.
India narrowly missed additional medals in the lightweight categories. Ashok Malik finished fourth in the men’s lightweight final after registering a personal-best lift of 200kg, while Paramjeet Kumar ended the competition in seventh place.
In the women’s events, Jaspreet Kaur finished sixth, Suman Devi secured seventh place, and Kasthuri Rajamani failed to record a successful lift in the heavyweight final.
Jhandu’s medal marks a remarkable milestone in a journey shaped by perseverance and resilience. A polio survivor, he overcame financial hardships while supporting his family before rising through the ranks of para powerlifting to represent India on the international stage.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Jhandu Kumar in a post on social media, praising his “spectacular” performance. He said the bronze medal reflected the athlete’s immense strength, unwavering determination, and years of disciplined hard work.
The Prime Minister added that by overcoming numerous challenges and excelling on the international stage, Jhandu Kumar had made the nation proud and inspired countless Indians with his achievement.