Jhandu Kumar Wins Bronze in Para Powerlifting at Commonwealth Games 2026

Jhandu Kumar's Remarkable Achievement

Glasgow, July 25: Indian weightlifter Jhandu Kumar has clinched a bronze medal in the men’s heavyweight para powerlifting category at the Commonwealth Games 2026, contributing to India's medal tally in Glasgow on Friday.

In a competitive field divided into two groups, Jhandu excelled in Group B, achieving a top lift of 130.9, which placed him ahead of Uganda’s Dennis Mbaziira (114.1) and Australia’s Ben Wright (110.9), allowing him to move into medal contention.

However, in the overall rankings, Nigeria’s Riluwan Idris secured the gold medal with a lift of 132.8, while England’s Matthew Harding took silver with 131.0. Jhandu's performance of 130.9 earned him the bronze, finishing just 0.1 points behind Harding in a tightly contested race for silver.

This bronze medal adds to India's positive performance in para sports at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games, showcasing Jhandu's impressive consistency under pressure.

Born on January 1, 1997, in Harnaut, Nalanda district of Bihar, Jhandu has faced polio since birth. Coming from a modest background as the son of a vegetable vendor, he has triumphed over financial and physical obstacles through sheer determination. He began his athletic journey in 2017 as a para athlete in shot put and discus throw, earning numerous district and state-level accolades. His interest in powerlifting was sparked during strength training, leading him to transition to para powerlifting after a recommendation at a state championship.

Earlier in the day, Ashok Malik narrowly missed a podium finish in the men’s lightweight para powerlifting event, finishing fourth with 143.8 points despite an impressive lift of 200kg.

Malik remained in contention for a medal throughout the event but ultimately fell short against Malaysia's Bonnie Bunyau Gustin, who secured bronze with 153.5 points. Gustin, the reigning Commonwealth champion and world record holder, successfully defended his title against Malik's challenge.

England's Mark Swan claimed the gold medal with a top lift of 222kg, while Nigeria's Roland Ezuruike matched Swan's points but settled for silver due to countback, achieving a best lift of 185kg. This event marked the first gold medal awarded at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games.

India's second competitor, Parmjeet Kumar, finished seventh with 135.6 points. Scotland's Finlay Davidson placed fifth with 141.4 points, followed by Nigeria's Ibrahim Dauda with 140.1. Kenya's Ngungi Maringa scored 127.0 points, Australia's Daniel Bos achieved 123.3 points, Cameroon's Belinga Manga recorded 103.9 points, Solomon Islands' Moffet Tolomae got 94.0 points, and Malta's Nick Mercieca completed the standings with 92.5 points.