CWG 2026: Ashok Malik finishes 4th in para-powerlifting, India misses podium
Synopsis
Ashok Malik lifted 200kg and scored 143.8 points — and still came home without a medal. A 9.7-point gap separated him from defending champion Bonnie Bunyau Gustin's bronze at Glasgow 2026, in an event that also handed out the Games' very first gold medal. India's para-powerlifting campaign continues with more categories ahead.
Key Takeaways
Ashok Malik finished fourth in the men's lightweight para-powerlifting event at CWG 2026 in Glasgow on 24 July .
Malik scored 143.8 points with a best lift of 200kg , missing the bronze by 9.7 points .
Mark Swan (England) won gold with 153.9 points ; Roland Ezuruike (Nigeria) took silver on countback; Bonnie Bunyau Gustin (Malaysia) claimed bronze with 153.5 points .
This event awarded the first gold medal of the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games .
India's second entrant, Parmjeet Kumar , finished seventh with 135.6 points .
Malik, from Haryana , has previously competed at the Paralympics , Asian Para Games , and World Para Powerlifting Championships .
India's Ashok Malik came agonisingly close to a podium finish in the men's lightweight para-powerlifting event at the Commonwealth Games 2026 in Glasgow, ending fourth with 143.8 points despite registering an impressive best lift of 200kg on 24 July. The result denied India what would have been its first medal of the Glasgow Games from para-powerlifting.
How the Medals Were Decided
England's Mark Swan claimed the gold with 153.9 points and the competition's top lift of 222kg. Nigeria's Roland Ezuruike, a multiple Paralympic medallist, matched Swan's points tally but was relegated to silver on countback, with a best lift of 185kg. The bronze went to Malaysia's Bonnie Bunyau Gustin — the defending Commonwealth Games champion and world record holder in the category — who finished with 153.5 points. This event also carried the distinction of awarding the first gold medal of the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games.
Malik's Near-Miss and the Points Gap
Malik remained in medal contention for much of the competition before Gustin's total proved just enough to keep him off the podium. The margin between Malik's fourth-place score and Gustin's bronze-winning tally was 9.7 points — a narrow but decisive gap under the bodyweight-adjusted points system used to rank athletes rather than raw weight lifted.
Scotland's Finlay Davidson placed fifth with 141.4 points, followed by Nigeria's Ibrahim Dauda at 140.1. India's second competitor, Parmjeet Kumar, finished seventh with 135.6 points.
About Ashok Malik
Malik, who competes in the men's up to 65kg category, hails from Haryana and is among India's most decorated para powerlifters. He has represented the country at the Paralympics, the Asian Para Games, and the World Para Powerlifting Championships, making his Commonwealth Games appearance a further chapter in a distinguished international career.
Full Standings
The complete results from the event: Swan (England) — 153.9 pts (gold); Ezuruike (Nigeria) — 153.9 pts (silver, countback); Gustin (Malaysia) — 153.5 pts (bronze); Malik (India) — 143.8 pts (4th); Davidson (Scotland) — 141.4 pts; Dauda (Nigeria) — 140.1 pts; Parmjeet Kumar (India) — 135.6 pts; Maringa (Kenya) — 127.0 pts; Bos (Australia) — 123.3 pts; Belinga Manga (Cameroon) — 103.9 pts; Tolomae (Solomon Islands) — 94.0 pts; Mercieca (Malta) — 92.5 pts.
What Comes Next for India
The men's lightweight para-powerlifting event opened India's campaign in the discipline at Glasgow 2026. With more para-powerlifting categories to follow, the Indian contingent will be looking to convert close finishes into medals in the days ahead.
Point of View
Yet podium conversions at marquee events remain elusive. The question is whether the support infrastructure — training load, sports science, and competition exposure — is calibrated to close that last, critical gap, or whether near-misses will continue to define the programme's Commonwealth Games record.
NationPress
24 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How did Ashok Malik perform at CWG 2026 para-powerlifting?
Ashok Malik finished fourth in the men's lightweight para-powerlifting event at the Commonwealth Games 2026 in Glasgow, scoring 143.8 points with a best lift of 200kg. He narrowly missed the bronze medal, which went to Malaysia's Bonnie Bunyau Gustin with 153.5 points.
Who won gold in men's lightweight para-powerlifting at Glasgow 2026?
England's Mark Swan won the gold medal with 153.9 points and a top lift of 222kg. Nigeria's Roland Ezuruike also scored 153.9 points but was awarded silver on countback. This was also the first gold medal of the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games.
Who is Bonnie Bunyau Gustin?
Bonnie Bunyau Gustin is Malaysia's defending Commonwealth Games champion and world record holder in the men's lightweight para-powerlifting category. He won the bronze medal at Glasgow 2026 with 153.5 points.
How are athletes ranked in para-powerlifting at the Commonwealth Games?
Athletes are ranked using a bodyweight-adjusted points system rather than solely on the raw weight lifted. This allows fair comparison across competitors of different body weights within the same category.
Who else represented India in para-powerlifting at CWG 2026?
India's second competitor, Parmjeet Kumar, finished seventh in the men's lightweight para-powerlifting event with 135.6 points.
