GLASGOW, SCOTLAND — India officially opened its medal tally at the 2026 Commonwealth Games on Friday, courtesy of a grit-heavy performance by para powerlifter Jhandu Kumar in the men’s heavyweight division.
The 28-year-old powerlifter amassed 130.9 points to secure a bronze medal, successfully executing lifts of 181 kg and 190 kg before narrowly missing his final attempt at 196 kg. Nigeria’s Idris Riluwan claimed the gold medal with 132.8 points, while Great Britain’s Matthew Harding took home silver with 131.0 points. Fellow Indian lifter Sudhir finished sixth with 114.1 points.
For Kumar, the podium finish in Glasgow marks the culmination of a grueling journey defined by severe financial hardship and personal adversity.
Triumph Over Adversity
Contracting polio at just five years old, Kumar grew up in Harnaut village, located in Bihar’s Nalanda district. To support his family, he spent years selling vegetables in local markets.
Without initial access to formal sports facilities, Kumar began basic weight training around 2010 to build physical strength. He initially tried his hand at throw events like the shot put and javelin before discovering his true aptitude for para powerlifting.
The path to elite competition was fraught with financial strain. Lacking the resources to afford basic athletic nutrition, Kumar traveled nearly 20 kilometers daily to regional markets without a wheelchair, relying purely on determination to earn a living. Later, he borrowed money from friends to purchase an e-rickshaw to generate daily income—an enterprise severely disrupted during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Miscommunication Cost Gold, Says Coach
While celebrating the breakthrough bronze, India's head coach and Paralympic medalist Rajinder Singh Rahelu revealed that the coaching team had strategically targeted the gold medal, which slipped away due to a narrow tactical miscalculation.
"It feels great to open India's account, but we had calculated for gold," Rahelu told reporters after the event. "The competition at the top was extremely tight, and a slight miscommunication cost us. Because I was positioned a bit further away, there was a minor calculation error under intense pressure."
In para powerlifting's AH point system, a difference of two points converts to approximately 2 to 3 kilograms on the bar.
"When you are operating on such fine margins, small tactical errors make the difference between gold and bronze," Rahelu added. "Nevertheless, Jhandu performed with immense heart, and bringing home India's first medal of these Games is a massive accomplishment."
Kumar's bronze provides an immediate boost to India’s campaign in Scotland as competition across events intensifies over the coming week
