CWG 2026: Jhandu Kumar wins para powerlifting bronze in men's heavyweight at Glasgow
Synopsis
A vegetable vendor's son from Nalanda, Bihar, Jhandu Kumar stood on the Commonwealth Games podium in Glasgow after switching from para athletics to powerlifting just a few years ago. His 130.9 lift earned India a bronze in the men's heavyweight event — just 0.1 points off silver — underlining how India's para sports pipeline is producing results from the most unlikely corners of the country.
Key Takeaways
Jhandu Kumar won bronze in men's heavyweight para powerlifting at CWG 2026 in Glasgow on 25 July .
His best lift of 130.9 placed him third, just 0.1 points behind silver medallist Matthew Harding of England.
Nigeria's Riluwan Idris claimed gold with a lift of 132.8 .
Born in Harnaut, Nalanda, Bihar , Jhandu has been affected by polio since birth and only switched to para powerlifting after starting in athletics in 2017 .
Ashok Malik finished fourth in the lightweight category with 143.8 points , missing the podium by a narrow margin.
India's Parmjeet Kumar finished seventh in the lightweight event with 135.6 points .
Jhandu Kumar claimed a bronze medal in the men's heavyweight para powerlifting event at the Commonwealth Games 2026 in Glasgow on 25 July, adding to India's growing medal tally in para sports at the Games. The Bihar-born athlete's best lift of 130.9 placed him third in the combined standings, just 0.1 points behind silver medallist Matthew Harding of England in a tightly fought contest.
How the Competition Unfolded
Competing across a two-group field, Jhandu topped Group B with a best result of 130.9, finishing comfortably ahead of Uganda's Dennis Mbaziira (114.1) and Australia's Ben Wright (110.9) to advance into medal contention.
In the combined standings, Nigeria's Riluwan Idris produced the standout lift of 132.8 to claim gold, while England's Matthew Harding secured silver with 131.0. Jhandu's effort of 130.9 earned him the bronze — a margin of just 0.1 points separating him from the silver.
The Man Behind the Medal
Born on 1 January 1997 in Harnaut, Nalanda district, Bihar, Jhandu Kumar has battled adversity throughout his life. Affected by polio since birth and the son of a vegetable vendor, he grew up overcoming both financial and physical hardships.
He entered competitive sport in 2017 as a para athletics athlete, competing in the F55 shot put and discus throw events and winning several district and state-level medals. Strength training during that period drew him toward powerlifting, and following a recommendation at a state championship, he made the switch to para powerlifting — a decision that has now earned him a Commonwealth Games podium.
Ashok Malik Misses Out by a Narrow Margin
Earlier on the same day, India's Ashok Malik narrowly missed a podium finish in the men's lightweight para powerlifting event, finishing fourth with 143.8 points despite recording an impressive best lift of 200kg.
Malik was edged out of the medals by Malaysia's Bonnie Bunyau Gustin — the defending Commonwealth Games champion and world record holder in the category — who claimed bronze with 153.5 points. England's Mark Swan won gold with 153.9 points after achieving the top lift of 222kg. Nigeria's Roland Ezuruike, a multiple Paralympic medallist, matched Swan on points but settled for silver on countback, with a best lift of 185kg. Notably, this event also marked the first gold medal of the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games.
India's second entrant in the lightweight category, Parmjeet Kumar, finished seventh with 135.6 points.
India's Para Sports Momentum at Glasgow 2026
Jhandu Kumar's bronze reflects India's broader push in para sports at the Commonwealth Games, with athletes from non-metropolitan backgrounds increasingly making their mark on the international stage. With the Games still ongoing, India's para contingent will be looking to build further on this encouraging start in Glasgow.
Point of View
Son of a vegetable vendor, self-made his way to a Commonwealth Games podium after fewer than a decade in competitive sport. Yet the near-miss by Ashok Malik — just outside the medals in the lightweight event — is a reminder that podium conversions remain the hard part. India's para contingent is clearly competitive at Commonwealth level; the question is whether the support infrastructure can close those fractional gaps that cost medals.
NationPress
25 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Jhandu Kumar and what medal did he win at CWG 2026?
Jhandu Kumar is an Indian para powerlifter from Harnaut, Nalanda district, Bihar, who won a bronze medal in the men's heavyweight para powerlifting event at the Commonwealth Games 2026 in Glasgow on 25 July. His best lift of 130.9 placed him third in the combined standings.
Who won gold and silver in men's heavyweight para powerlifting at CWG 2026?
Nigeria's Riluwan Idris won gold with the best overall lift of 132.8, while England's Matthew Harding claimed silver with 131.0. Jhandu Kumar of India took bronze with 130.9 — just 0.1 points behind Harding.
How did Ashok Malik perform at CWG 2026 Glasgow?
Ashok Malik finished fourth in the men's lightweight para powerlifting event with 143.8 points, despite a best lift of 200kg. He narrowly missed the podium, with Malaysia's Bonnie Bunyau Gustin — the defending champion and world record holder — taking bronze with 153.5 points.
What is Jhandu Kumar's background and how did he get into powerlifting?
Born on 1 January 1997 in Harnaut, Nalanda, Bihar, Jhandu Kumar has been affected by polio since birth. The son of a vegetable vendor, he began competing in para athletics in 2017 in F55 shot put and discus throw before switching to para powerlifting after a recommendation at a state championship.
What was the significance of the men's lightweight para powerlifting event at Glasgow 2026?
The men's lightweight para powerlifting event at Glasgow 2026 was notable for marking the first gold medal of the Commonwealth Games 2026, won by England's Mark Swan with 153.9 points and a top lift of 222kg.
