Jhandu Kumar Celebrated for Winning Bronze at Commonwealth Games 2026

Jhandu Kumar, the Indian para powerlifter, received a hero's welcome at Delhi Airport after winning a bronze medal at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games. Expressing both pride and a hint of disappointment for not securing gold, Kumar highlighted the challenges he faced during the competition. His achievement marks a significant milestone for India in para powerlifting, as it is the country's first medal in this category at the Commonwealth Games. As India continues to compete, Kumar's performance stands out in the ongoing medal tally.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jul 27, 2026, 04:39 IST

Jhandu Kumar's Triumphant Return to Delhi

Upon his arrival at Delhi Airport, Indian para powerlifter Jhandu Kumar was greeted with a warm welcome after clinching a bronze medal in the men's heavyweight category at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games (CWG).

In a conversation with the media, Kumar expressed his joy at achieving India's first medal at this year's Games, while also sharing his feelings of disappointment for not securing the gold.

He stated, "I am incredibly grateful for all the support. It feels wonderful to have won the first medal for India and to have raised our national flag. However, I do feel a bit let down that I couldn't bring home the gold. There are aspects I need to improve on, and I will concentrate on those... A small technical mistake occurred, and my coach was positioned too far away, which contributed to the issue."

Kumar earned the bronze in the para powerlifting event held at the SEC Armadillo in Glasgow. Competing in Group B, the 28-year-old achieved his best lift of 190 kg on his second attempt, accumulating 130.9 points.

The medals in para powerlifting at the Commonwealth Games are awarded based on a bodyweight coefficient system, rather than just the weight lifted. Athletes from different bodyweight categories compete together in both lightweight and heavyweight divisions, with final rankings determined by an athlete's bodyweight and their highest successful lift.

Kumar started strong with a successful lift of 181 kg before increasing his attempt to 190 kg. He then aimed for a lift of 196 kg in his final attempt, which would have surpassed the Commonwealth Games record set in Birmingham 2022.

Unfortunately, he was unable to complete this lift and ultimately secured third place, earning the bronze medal. This achievement also marked India's first podium finish in para powerlifting at the 2026 Commonwealth Games.

As of Day 4, India ranks eighth in the medal standings with two silvers, one gold, and a bronze medal. Australia currently leads the tally with 39 medals, including 17 gold, nine silver, and 13 bronze.