Bihar’s Jhandu Kumar finally gave a reason to celebrate, clinching a bronze medal in para powerlifting to open the country’s tally at the 2026 Commonwealth Games. The 28-year-old accumulated 130.9 points to make the podium finish, successfully lifting 181kg and 190kg, though he fell short in his final attempt at 196kg.
Who is Jhandu Kumar?
From the dusty lanes of Harnaut in Bihar’s Nalanda district to the global para powerlifting stage, Jhandu Kumar’s journey is a story of grit forged in adversity. Born with polio and raised in a modest household, his father a vegetable vendor, Jhandu’s early life was shaped by both physical and financial constraints. Yet, those very challenges became the bedrock of his resilience.
He did not begin as a powerlifter. In 2017, Jhandu
entered sport through para athletics, competing in F55 shot put and discus, where he collected medals at district and state levels. It was in the gym, during strength training sessions, that he discovered his true calling. A recommendation at a state championship nudged him towards para powerlifting, setting in motion a career-defining transition.
The road, however, was anything but smooth. At his first National Championship, Jhandu failed to register a single successful lift. It was a moment that could have ended many careers before they began. Instead, it became his turning point. Paralympic medallist Rajinder Singh Rahelu spotted his raw potential and brought him to the Sports Authority of India’s National Centre of Excellence in Gandhinagar.
Under Rahelu’s mentorship, Jhandu transformed into one of India’s most promising para powerlifters in the 72 kg category. His rise has been rapid and emphatic: a national record lift of 205 kg in 2025, bettered to 206 kg at the Khelo India Para Games, along with bronze medals at the Beijing World Cup 2025 and the Asian & Oceania Championships 2026.
Major Achievements
World Championship 2025: 5th Position
Asia Oceania Championship 2026: Bronze Medal
Beijing World Cup 2025: Bronze Medal
National Championship 2025, 2026: Gold Medal
