Jhandu Kumar Celebrates Bronze Medal Win at Commonwealth Games 2026
Jhandu Kumar's Triumph at the Commonwealth Games
By Vipul Kashyap
Glasgow [Scotland], July 25: Para powerlifter Jhandu Kumar expressed his overwhelming happiness after clinching a bronze medal at the Commonwealth Games 2026 in Glasgow, emphasizing that his primary goal was to earn a medal for India.
In an interview following his medal-winning achievement, Jhandu shared that he felt as though he was 'flying' after securing the bronze, which represents his first significant medal.
"I feel like I'm soaring. This is my inaugural medal. My only thought was to win a medal. I just had to win," Jhandu Kumar remarked.
The para powerlifter also conveyed his appreciation to his family, coaches, and everyone who supported him throughout his journey.
"I am very thankful for their support and the love they have shown me during my practice. I feel fantastic and will strive to achieve even more in the future," he added.
Jhandu expressed gratitude towards the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) and the Sports Authority of India (SAI) for their backing and training resources.
"I am incredibly thankful to them. We train there, and in a way, this medal belongs to them," he stated.
He achieved a podium finish with a best lift of 190kg, earning 130.9 points. Jhandu started strong, lifting 181kg in his first attempt for 124.7 points, before improving to 190kg in his second lift, which briefly placed him at the top of the leaderboard.
In his final attempt, Jhandu aimed for 196kg, which would have set a new Commonwealth Games record established at Birmingham 2022. However, he was unable to complete the lift and ultimately secured the bronze medal.
Earlier, India's lightweight para powerlifters fell short of medals. Ashok finished fourth in the men's final with a personal-best lift of 200kg, scoring 143.8 points, while Paramjeet Kumar placed seventh with a lift of 176kg and 135.6 points.
In the women's lightweight category, Jaspreet Kaur finished sixth after lifting 100kg for 96.4 points, while Suman Devi also placed seventh with a best lift of 100kg and 88.4 points.
Kasthuri Rajamani, on the other hand, was unable to record a valid lift in the women's heavyweight final, as all three of her attempts were unsuccessful.
Jhandu's bronze medal marks India's first achievement in para powerlifting at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games.