Jhandu Kumar's bronze medal at the Commonwealth Games 2026 was so much more than just a win in sports. It symbolized the culmination of a long and tough journey battling polio, grappling with poverty,
and putting in years of hard work beyond the realm of athletics. As India's first medallist at CWG 2026, Jhandu Kumar brought home the country's inaugural medal from Glasgow. At just 28 years old, he clinched third place in the men's heavyweight para powerlifting event, scoring 130.9 points after impressive lifts of 181kg and 190kg. Although he fell short on his final attempt at 196kg, he still carved out a remarkable spot on the podium for India.
Viren Rasquinha on Jhandu Kumar's lift that earned India its first medal in Glasgow. 🥉 Watch the Commonwealth Games Glasgow 2026, LIVE & EXCLUSIVE on Sony Sports Network TV channels & Sony LIV.#SonySportsNetwork #SonyLIV #GlasgowMeinTiranga #Cheer4Bharat pic.twitter.com/5qumeKZ2K4
— Sony Sports Network (@SonySportsNetwk) July 25, 2026
The other Indian in the event, Sudhir, finished sixth with 114.1 points. Nigeria's Idris Riluwan claimed gold with 132.8 points, while England's Matthew Harding won silver with 131 points. After the medal ceremony, Kumar said, "It is very important for India, the first medal. When I see my flag, I feel very happy."
The Story Behind India's First CWG 2026 Medallist
Kumar, hailing from Harnaut in Bihar's Nalanda district, has been living with polio since he was a child. His family faced financial hardships, and he often helped his father sell potatoes and onions by the roadside. When the Covid-19 pandemic hit, he took to driving an e-rickshaw to make ends meet. His journey into sports kicked off in 2017 when he became a para athlete, competing in the F55 shot put and discus throw events, where he earned several medals at both district and state levels. As he continued to hit the gym regularly, he found himself drawn to para powerlifting, ultimately deciding to switch sports entirely.
His path took a turn after a challenging National Championship where he couldn't register a valid lift. To even make it to the event, he had to sell his e-rickshaw in 2023. But even in the face of this setback, Paralympic bronze medallist Rajinder Singh Rahelu recognized his talent and invited him to the SAI National Centre of Excellence in Gandhinagar. With Rahelu's mentorship, Kumar blossomed into India's top lifter in the 72kg category. He shattered national records with lifts of 205kg and then 206kg, and went on to clinch bronze medals at the 2025 Beijing World Cup and the 2026 Asian & Oceania Championships.
𝐁𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐊𝐈𝐍𝐆: 𝟏𝐬𝐭 𝐦𝐞𝐝𝐚𝐥 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐚 𝐚𝐭 𝐆𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐠𝐨𝐰 𝐂𝐖𝐆 🔥 Jhandu Kumar wins Bronze medal in Power Lifting (Heavyweight). #CWG2026 #CWG2026withIAS pic.twitter.com/SbMKS5YGjc
— India_AllSports (@India_AllSports) July 24, 2026
Jhandu Kumar Rises To The Occasion In Heavyweight Final
Kumar's performance held strong as the Group A lifters wrapped up their attempts. Idris Riluwan clinched the gold with an impressive lift of 208kg, scoring 132.8 points, while Matthew Harding took home the silver with a lift of 199kg, totaling 131 points. Kumar secured the bronze, being one of only three lifters to surpass the 130-point threshold. Overjoyed after the competition, he shared that his first call would be to his parents and his childhood training partner, Gautam. On another note, Sudhir, who had previously celebrated a Commonwealth Games gold before facing a doping ban, ended up in sixth place in this event.
