Ashok Kumar Malik is one of India’s leading para-powerlifters and a prominent figure in the men’s up to 65 kg category. Hailing from Gohana in Haryana’s Sonipat district, Malik has established himself as a consistent performer on the international stage through his determination, resilience and remarkable upper-body strength. Over the years, he has represented India at the Paralympics, Asian Para Games, World Cup and several continental championships, emerging as one of the country’s most accomplished para-powerlifters. Malik’s career has been defined by perseverance, overcoming serious setbacks to compete at the highest level of the sport. Training under national coach Jitender Pal Singh and kinesiologist Tanvir Logani, he has steadily climbed the international rankings through consistent performances against the world’s best lifters. The biggest milestone of his career came in 2024 when he qualified for his maiden Paralympic Games in Paris. Competing in the men’s up to 65 kg category, Malik successfully lifted 196 kg, 199 kg and 206 kg to finish sixth in the world, producing one of the finest performances by an Indian para-powerlifter at the Games. Earlier that year, he secured qualification for Paris by winning the silver medal at the Para Powerlifting World Cup in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, with a best lift of 196 kg. He had already made his mark at the continental level by winning the bronze medal at the 2022 Asian Para Games in Hangzhou and claiming gold at the 2022 Asia Oceania Championships in South Korea. Malik also represented India at the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, where he competed in the men’s lightweight para-powerlifting event. Although he did not register a successful lift, the experience marked his first appearance at the Commonwealth Games. After missing the 2022 edition, he is set to return to the Commonwealth stage at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, where he will represent India in the men’s up to 65 kg para-powerlifting category.
Event
CWG Record
- 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games – Represented India in the men’s lightweight para-powerlifting event (Did Not Finish).
- 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games – Did not compete.
- 2026 Glasgow Commonwealth Games – Set to represent India in the men’s up to 65 kg category.
Major Achievements
- Selected to represent India at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
- Represented India at the 2024 Paris Paralympic Games, finishing sixth in the men’s up to 65 kg category with a best lift of 206 kg.
- Silver medallist at the 2024 Para Powerlifting World Cup in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt.
- Bronze medallist in the men’s up to 65 kg category at the 2022 Asian Para Games.
- Gold medallist in the total combined score at the 2022 Asia Oceania Championships.
- Bronze medallist for best lift at the 2022 Asia Oceania Championships.
