Jhandu Kumar secures India’s first medal in para powerlifting at Commonwealth Games
India’s First Medal and Other Performances
India concluded Day 2 of the Commonwealth Games with its first medal, alongside several promising performances in para powerlifting, swimming, boxing, and lawn bowls. Athletes continued to advance in their respective events, showcasing their competitive spirit.
Jhandu Kumar earned India’s inaugural medal by securing a bronze in the men’s heavyweight para powerlifting event. The 28-year-old athlete, who has overcome significant personal challenges, achieved 130.9 points. His successful lifts included 181kg and 190kg, though he was unable to complete his final attempt of 196kg. The other Indian participant in the event, Sudhir, finished sixth with 114.1 points. Nigeria’s Idris Riluwan claimed gold with 132.8 points, while Matthew Harding of England took silver with 131 points.
In the men’s lightweight para powerlifting event, Ashok Malik finished fourth with 143.8 points, narrowly missing a medal. England’s Mark Swan won gold with 153.9 points, Nigeria’s Roland Ezuruike secured silver with 153.9 points, and Malaysia’s Bonnie Bunyau Gustin earned bronze. India’s Paramjeet Kumar placed seventh with 135.6 points.
Close Calls and Advancements in Other Sports
In para swimming, Karthik Budigina came close to a medal, finishing fourth in the men’s 100m Freestyle S13 final with a time of 57.57 seconds. His teammate, Imam Ali, finished seventh in 1:03.73. South Africa’s Nathan Hendricks won gold in 54.54 seconds, Scotland’s Stephen Clegg took silver in 55.16 seconds, and England’s Matthew Redfern secured bronze in 56.86 seconds. Both Budigina and Imam Ali had advanced to the final earlier in the day, with Budigina finishing third in the heats with 57.10 seconds and Imam Ali qualifying with 1:05.32 seconds.
Indian boxer Jadumani Singh started strong in the men’s 55kg competition, defeating Scotland’s Aaron Cullen by unanimous decision in the Round of 32. He will now face Pakistan’s Sumama Rehman in the pre-quarterfinals. However, Srihari Nataraj’s campaign in the men’s 50m backstroke ended in the semifinals, where he finished seventh in his race with a time of 25.29 seconds.
India also had a successful day in lawn bowls. The women’s pairs team of Rupa Rani Tirkey and Pinki Singh achieved their second consecutive victory, defeating South Africa 2-0 (6-4, 7-5) in their Section B match. In men’s singles, Putul Sonowal followed up his initial win with another hard-fought victory against Falkland Islands’ Cecil Alexander. Sonowal recovered from a 3-4 deficit to win the opening set 7-5, and after Alexander claimed the second set 8-6, Sonowal secured the win in a tie-break.
Jhandu Kumar’s Journey to the Podium
Born in Bihar, Jhandu Kumar’s journey to para powerlifting success began with a background in para athletics, where he earned district and state-level medals in shot put and discus throw. He also participated in able-bodied powerlifting competitions, demonstrating his inherent strength and competitive drive.
Under the guidance of his coaches, Jhandu transitioned to para powerlifting in 2022. He made an immediate impact, winning a silver medal at his debut competition in Kolkata. In 2025, he set a national record in the men’s 72kg category, lifting 205kg at the National Championships and then surpassing that with a 206kg lift at the Khelo India Para Games in New Delhi. He also earned bronze medals at both the World Para Powerlifting World Cup and the Asia-Oceania Open Championships, and finished among the top six at the World Para Powerlifting Championships.
The Commonwealth Games 2026 continue to feature strong performances from Indian athletes across various disciplines.
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
