CWG 2026: India’s Jhandu Kumar clinches bronze in para powerlifting

India opened its medal tally at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow after Jhandu Kumar clinched the bronze medal in the men’s heavyweight para powerlifting final on Friday. Jhandu, who hails from Nalanda district of Bihar, delivered a strong performance by lifting 190 kg in his second attempt, earning 130.9 points and securing a place on the podium. He started with a successful 181kg lift before improving his mark. His final attempt of 196kg could have broken the Commonwealth Games record set in Birmingham 2022, but he could not complete the lift. Jhandu Kumar’s bronze medal is a major achievement considering his challenging journey. He overcame polio at a young age and faced financial hardships while helping his family. His dedication to strength training and para powerlifting helped him rise to the international level.

BRONZE FOR BHARAT!

Jhandu Kumar opens India’s #CWG2026 medal tally with a massive 190kg lift in Men’s Heavyweight Para Powerlifting. The entire nation is proud! #Cheer4Bharat pic.twitter.com/pyZSOZw0uI

— Dr Mansukh Mandaviya (@mansukhmandviya) July 24, 2026

Earlier, India missed out on medals in the lightweight events. Ashok Malik finished fourth in the men’s lightweight final with a personal-best lift of 200kg, while Paramjeet Kumar placed seventh. In the women’s events, Jaspreet Kaur finished sixth, Suman Devi seventh, and Kasthuri Rajamani failed to register a valid lift in the heavyweight final.