New Delhi: Indian para powerlifter Jhandu Kumar received a warm reception upon his arrival in New Delhi after winning a historic bronze medal in the men’s heavyweight para powerlifting event at the Commonwealth Games 2026 in Glasgow. While celebrating his achievement, the 28-year-old said his focus is already on improving his performance and returning stronger in pursuit of gold.
Speaking to the media at Delhi Airport, Jhandu expressed pride in opening India’s medal account at the Games but admitted there was also disappointment at narrowly missing the top spot.
“It feels amazing to have won India’s first medal at the Commonwealth Games and to have represented the country on the podium. At the same time, I feel I could have done even better. There were a few technical issues during the competition, and those are areas I will continue to work on with my coach. My goal is to come back stronger and win gold for India,” he said.
Jhandu secured the bronze medal at the SEC Armadillo after producing a best lift of 190kg on his second attempt, earning 130.9 points under the para powerlifting bodyweight coefficient system. Unlike conventional powerlifting, medals in Commonwealth para powerlifting are decided using a coefficient that factors in both the athlete’s bodyweight and their highest successful lift.
The Indian lifter successfully opened with 181kg before improving to 190kg on his second attempt. He then attempted 196kg in his final lift, a weight that would have surpassed the Commonwealth Games record established at Birmingham 2022. Although the attempt was unsuccessful, his earlier lifts were enough to secure third place and a place on the podium.
The bronze medal also marked India’s first para powerlifting medal at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games, providing an encouraging start for the country’s para athletes.
India has enjoyed a strong opening to its campaign, with weightlifting contributing significantly to the medal tally. Mirabai Chanu captured a historic third consecutive Commonwealth Games gold medal, while Rishikanta Singh and Raja Muthupandi added silver medals in their respective weightlifting categories.
As the Games continue, Jhandu Kumar’s determined performance and commitment to improvement have added another inspiring chapter to India’s sporting campaign, underlining the country’s growing strength in para sports on the international stage.
