Paramjeet Kumar is one of India’s most decorated para powerlifters and is set to compete in his second Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
The 34-year-old became the first Indian powerlifter to win a medal at the World Para Powerlifting Championships, claiming bronze in the men’s up to 49kg category in 2021.
Early days
Hailing from Phillaur, Jalandhar, Punjab, Parmjeet Kumar comes from a modest family, with his father running a shop and his mother being a homemaker.
Paramjeet has a disability in both of his legs, which were affected by polio when he was just 2 years old. He had to spend most of his childhood relying on crutches, a wheelchair, and a tricycle.
He completed his Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) and was introduced to para powerlifting through his coach, Jitender Pal Singh, in the early 2000s.
His dream of pursuing para powerlifting started when he saw the veteran Indian powerlifter Rajinder Singh Rahelu’s bronze medal-winning performance at the 2004 Athens Paralympics.
In the initial years, he was under Rahelu’s guidance and in 2015, he also shifted to SAI Gandhinagar to continue training under his mentor.
He quickly rose up the Indian charts and then went on to win multiple international medals at the 2018 Asian Para Games and 2021 World Championships.
Bounce back from Commonwealth heartbreak
His medal at the World Championships also helped him to qualify for the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games in the men’s lightweight category.
However, things didn’t go as he planned, and he missed all three of his lifts at 165Kg and potentially lost his medal chances on his debut.
He came back strongly and next year clinched the 2023 World Championships gold medal in the total lift category and booked his spot for the Paris Paralympics.
In Paris, he succesfully lifting 150 kg in his first attempt in the men’s up to 49 kg category, but later failed two lifts at 156 kg and 161 kg and finished 8th.
Now, he is returning to the Commonwealth Games and is hoping to finish what he couldn’t do last time and potentially earn a medal for India.
