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Paramjeet Kumar is one of India’s most decorated para powerlifters and is set to compete in his second Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Early days<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n Hailing from Phillaur, Jalandhar, Punjab, Parmjeet Kumar comes from a modest family, with his father running a shop and his mother being a homemaker.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n He completed his Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) and was introduced to para powerlifting through his coach, Jitender Pal Singh, in the early 2000s.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Bounce back from Commonwealth heartbreak<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n His medal at the World Championships also helped him to qualify for the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games in the men’s lightweight category.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n