From INR 500-a-day struggles to Commonwealth glory: Jhandu Kumar's incredible journey to India's first medal in Glasgow
Jhandu Kumar won bronze in the men's heavyweight para powerlifting event at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, India's first medal of the Games.
He achieved a 190kg lift on his second attempt for 130.9 points, finishing 0.1 point behind England's Matthew Harding (silver) and behind Nigeria's Riluwan Idris (gold with 132.8 points).
Kumar, from Harnaut in Bihar's Nalanda district, was affected by childhood polio and previously competed in para athletics before focusing on powerlifting.
He supported his family by selling vegetables and driving an e-rickshaw, earning around ₹400-500 per day, while struggling to afford training nutrition and supplements.
A temporary closure of the vegetable shop around 2021 forced him to drive an e-rickshaw, but he continued training to reach the Commonwealth podium.
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