NEW DELHI: When ‘Jhandu Kumar’ rang out in the Commonwealth Games arena in Glasgow, it was no longer a name that invited ridicule. It was a name that had just delivered India’s first medal of the 2026 Commonwealth Games.For years, the para powerlifter from Bihar had endured ridicule for a name born of tragedy. On Friday, he turned that painful identity into a symbol of resilience, winning bronze in the men’s para powerlifting event and scripting one of the most inspiring stories of India’s Games. The 28-year-old secured bronze with 130.9 points after successful lifts of 181kg and 190kg. A last-ditch 196kg attempt, which could have pushed him into gold medal contention, narrowly missed out.
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Still, as he stood on the podium, Jhandu was thinking less about the missed opportunity and more about the remarkable journey that got him here.“Happiness is overwhelming. I haven’t been able to sleep since last night… Even when I lie down, sleep just doesn’t come,” he said during a Sports Authority of India interaction.
The painful story behind the name “Jhandu”
Long before he became India’s medal winner, Jhandu was a five-year-old boy battling polio in a small village in Bihar.“My family says I had polio at the age of 5. I had to sit and walk… People used to make fun of me. They said, ‘Now that he has become invalid, what will he do?'” he said.His unusual name came from another painful chapter. His parents have exhausted their savings to treat his illness. Family friends made fun of the situation, saying, “Aap ka beta sab jhandu kar diya, sab paisa khatam kar diya” (Your son has lost all your money).The nickname stuck. For a while, he tried to escape, changing his name to Avinash Kumar. But during a visit to a government office, officials repeatedly called him “Jhandu Kumar”.Recalling the incident, he said officials called him inside after repeatedly calling him ‘Jhandu Kumar’ and burst out laughing when he confirmed his name. Instead of hiding from it, I chose to own it.“I felt that everyone had a good laugh at my name … so this name is only good,” he said. “Now in all our documents, it is Jhandu Kumar. Therefore, there is no more existence of Avinash Kumar.”
India’s Jhandu Kumar (PTI Photo)
From e-rickshaw driver to CWG medalist
To afford supplements and maintain his training, Jhandu spent eight to nine months driving an e-rickshaw.“I drive the e-rickshaw for my diet. I think I earn Rs 200-400 and have supplements with it and continue my gym,” he said.“I used to go to the gym in the evening, but the problem was that I got tired after driving all day, so the gym time was reduced,” he explained, explaining that driving was difficult due to the effects of polio.His sports career itself began almost by chance. Initially a putter, he was convinced to switch to para powerlifting by the coach of Bihar Kundan Pandey, who recognized his natural strength.In 2022, watching Sudhir win Commonwealth Games gold ignited a dream.“When our gym owner told me that Sudhir bhai had lifted 212kg and won the Commonwealth Games, I said I will do it too. I think I will do it for my country,” he said.
Bronze today, dream bigger tomorrow
Jhandu approached the competition with a clear strategy: “My goal was to pass the first lift. After that, the second lift was to enter the medal. The third lift was for the gold medal.”The last attempt failed due to a technical error.“I couldn’t get the gold medal. It was a technical fault. I made a mistake in my hasty breathing. When I went up, I did the right lift. But when I came out, it got caught in the rack,” he added.Now training at the Sports Authority of India’s National Center of Excellence in Gandhinagar, he says life remains modest at home, where his parents continue to sell vegetables.But the bronze medal is just the beginning. His ultimate ambition is already set.“My journey has begun. Next I have Para Asian Games and Paralympics for which I have to prepare,” he said. “There is a record of 232 kg. I want to break that record.”