Para powerlifter Jhandu Kumar expressed great joy after securing a bronze medal at the Commonwealth Games 2026 in Glasgow, stating his primary focus was to win a medal for India.
Speaking to ANI following his medal-winning performance, Jhandu said, “I feel as if I’m flying. This is my first medal. Only one thing was going through my mind: that I have to win the medal. Just have to win.”
He also conveyed gratitude to his family, coaches, and all supporters throughout his journey. “I’m very grateful that they let me practice so much and gave me so much love. I feel very good. I’ll try to do even better in the future,” he added.
Jhandu thanked the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) and the Sports Authority of India (SAI) for their support and training facilities, saying, “I’m extremely grateful to them. We practice there, and this medal belongs to them, in a way.”
He achieved the podium finish with a best successful lift of 190kg, earning 130.9 points. He started strong with a 181kg lift on his first attempt, scoring 124.7 points before improving to 190kg in the second attempt, temporarily moving into the lead.
For his final attempt, Jhandu attempted a 196kg lift, which would have broken the Commonwealth Games meet record set in Birmingham 2022. However, he was unable to complete the lift and ultimately finished with the bronze.
Earlier, India’s lightweight para powerlifters missed out on medals. Ashok finished fourth in the men’s final with a personal-best 200kg lift, scoring 143.8 points, while Paramjeet Kumar placed seventh with 176kg and 135.6 points.
In the women’s lightweight category, Jaspreet Kaur placed sixth after lifting 100kg for 96.4 points, and Suman Devi was seventh with a best lift of 100kg and 88.4 points.
Kasthuri Rajamani failed to record a valid lift in the women’s heavyweight final after all three attempts were unsuccessful.
Jhandu’s bronze marked India’s first medal in para powerlifting at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games.
