Para powerlifter Jhandu Kumar, who won a bronze medal in the heavyweight category at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow by lifting 190 kg, acknowledged the Sports Authority of India’s (SAI) National Centre of Excellence (NCoE) in Gandhinagar for his transformation from an e-rickshaw driver and vegetable seller to an international medallist.
Jhandu attributed 80 to 90 per cent of his athletic development to SAI after joining the centre in 2023, when he was able to bench press only 50 kg. He said, “When I got selected here at SAI in 2023, back then I used to bench press only 50 kg. Coming from my village, my performance wasn’t there yet. But after joining SAI, my overall performance began to improve significantly. So in that sense, SAI has played a huge role.”
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He praised the centre’s comprehensive facilities, including training, physiotherapy and diet, stating, “Everything is available here—facilities, training, physiotherapy, proper diet—and the people here are wonderful and very supportive to interact with.”
Highlighting the importance of coaching and nutrition, he added, “The biggest aspect is our coach; the way he trains us with high discipline. Also, the diet here is top quality, and we have full access to physiotherapists and other resources. Everything is designed to be genuinely helpful for the athlete.”
Jhandu noted improvements in facilities since his arrival, such as an increase from two to four Eleiko benches, the international standard used for para powerlifting. He recalled, “Initially when I came, facilities were a bit limited, but now there are many more facilities—in terms of diet, tournament support, and equipment.”
Reflecting on his progress, he stated, “When I first came in 2023, I had virtually no facilities. From that state, I went on to win international medals. I competed in 2024 as well—went to China for my first tournament and won my first medal. This shows how great the facilities here are; everything is top-notch and excellent.”
Looking ahead, Jhandu expressed his goal to set a world record and perform strongly at the upcoming Asian Games. “My dream is to set a world record, and I definitely will. It may take some time, but I will create a world record. Next, we have the Asian Games in about one and a half to two months. I am participating in it and will surely give my best performance,” he said.
He also mentioned resuming training after a brief rest following the Commonwealth Championships, saying, “Training is going very well right now. I had taken a brief break after returning with a win from the Commonwealth Championships. Now I’ve restarted training with complete focus, and I’m dedicated to giving it my 100%.”
Jhandu’s coach emphasised the vital role played by SAI’s NCoEs in supporting athletes from grassroots levels to international competition. “SAI is playing a huge role. The NCOEs (National Centres of Excellence) set up by SAI are providing excellent facilities to the athletes. For intermediate athletes coming up from the grassroots level, SAI provides complete infrastructure and the ideal environment, helping them reach the level where they can win international medals. So currently, SAI has contributed immensely to para-sports,” the coach said.
Regarding powerlifting specifically, the coach described the Gandhinagar centre as India’s premier para-powerlifting facility with world-class equipment including imported Eleiko benches used in Paralympic and Asian Games. “I believe this is India’s premier para-powerlifting centre offering world-class facilities provided by SAI. For example, the benches we use for bench press are the exact same ones used in the Paralympic and Asian Games. They are imported from Sweden and not made locally,” he said.
The centre also features recovery amenities such as sauna and steam rooms, complemented by sports science support. “Overall, this is truly a world-class centre for powerlifting. Another centre is running in Lucknow, which we are also developing gradually,” the coach added.
He stressed the importance of diet and informed that SAI continuously improves nutrition based on athlete feedback following high-level competitions. “There is day-to-day improvement at SAI. Whenever an athlete returns from a high-level competition, we gather their feedback about the food, what they liked, and what needs improvement. Constant enhancements are being made to ensure we provide them with world-class nutrition,” the coach said.
The Gandhinagar centre serves as a crucial hub for para-athletes and plays a significant role in preparing India’s national-level squad. “This Gandhinagar centre is an extremely vital hub for para-athletes, and it is currently our only dedicated para-sports centre. Our sports are seeing great growth from here, and our athletes are making progress,” he said.
He highlighted that five of the seven powerlifting athletes at the Commonwealth Championships were associated with SAI and that eight to nine athletes supported by SAI are scheduled to compete at the Asian Games. “80–90% of the squad is supported by/associated with SAI. Thus, SAI plays a massive role in preparing a national-level team,” he said.
On expectations for the Asian Games, the coach said, “Absolutely, every athlete desires to bring home a gold medal. Our preparation for the Commonwealth was also targeted towards gold, but there were some minor hurdles—I couldn’t be on stage with them as a coach, which caused a slight issue. Nevertheless, we are giving our full effort to secure gold and top medals at the Asian Games.”
He added, “In my opinion, our performance in powerlifting will be better than all previous Asian Games.”
