Jhandu Kumar Makes History with Bronze at Commonwealth Games 2026

In a remarkable achievement, Jhandu Kumar has secured India's first medal at the Commonwealth Games 2026, winning bronze in the men's heavyweight para powerlifting event. Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised his dedication and strength, highlighting the significance of this victory for India. Jhandu's journey included a best lift of 190kg, and although he attempted a record-breaking lift of 196kg, he ultimately finished third. This medal marks a historic moment for India in para powerlifting, inspiring many across the nation. Discover more about Jhandu's inspiring performance and the outcomes of other competitors in this thrilling event.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jul 25, 2026, 12:54 IST

Historic Achievement for India at CWG 2026

New Delhi, July 25: Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his congratulations to para powerlifter Jhandu Kumar on Saturday after he secured India's inaugural medal at the Commonwealth Games 2026, clinching bronze in the men's heavyweight para powerlifting event held in Glasgow.

In a post shared on X, the Prime Minister commended Jhandu's remarkable achievement and highlighted his dedication.

“An outstanding performance by Jhandu Kumar, who has initiated India’s medal tally at the #CWG2026 by winning a Bronze in the Men’s Heavyweight Para Powerlifting event! Congratulations to him. His success exemplifies tremendous strength, relentless determination, and years of disciplined training. By overcoming numerous challenges and excelling on the global stage, he has made our nation proud and inspired many Indians,” he stated.

Jhandu earned the bronze medal with a top lift of 190kg, accumulating 130.9 points to kickstart India’s medal count at the Glasgow Games.

He began his competition with a lift of 181kg, scoring 124.7 points, before improving to 190kg on his second attempt, which briefly placed him at the top of the leaderboard.

With the gold medal within reach, Jhandu attempted a lift of 196kg in his final effort, a weight that would have surpassed the Commonwealth Games record set in Birmingham 2022. Unfortunately, he was unable to complete the lift and ultimately finished in third place, securing the bronze.

This medal also signifies India’s first podium finish in para powerlifting at the 2026 Commonwealth Games.

Earlier in the event, Ashok narrowly missed out on a medal, finishing fourth in the men’s lightweight final with a personal-best lift of 200kg, scoring 143.8 points. Paramjeet Kumar placed seventh in the same category with a best lift of 176kg.

In the women’s lightweight competition, Jaspreet Kaur finished sixth after lifting 100kg, while Suman Devi ended up seventh with the same successful lift. Kasthuri Rajamani, competing in the women’s heavyweight category, was unable to register a valid lift after failing all three of her attempts.