NEW DELHI: For years, Jhandu Kumar’s days began at a vegetable market and ended at a gym. When life got tougher during the COVID-19 pandemic, he traded the market for an e-rickshaw, working long hours to support his family while refusing to give up on his dream of representing India.On Friday in Glasgow, that dream came true. The para powerlifter from Bihar won bronze in the men’s heavyweight event at the 2026 Commonwealth Games, claiming India’s first para powerlifting medal of the competition. As the medal was placed around his neck, the emotions of years of sacrifice came rushing back.“I feel like flying. This is my first medal. Only one thing was going through my mind: that I have to win the medal. You just have to win,” Jhandu told ANI.The journey to the Commonwealth podium was anything but easy.
From hardship to hope
Affected by polio at the age of five, Jhandu battled physical and financial challenges from an early age. His family’s vegetable shop in Harnaut Bazaar, Nalanda district, was forced to close temporarily during the pandemic due to the construction of a bridge over it. To keep the family running, I started driving an e-rickshaw.However, even then, training remained non-negotiable.“Every day I used to travel nearly 20km to Bihar Sharif to buy vegetables, bring them back and sell them in the market. After finishing work around 4 pm, I would go to the gym for training,” he had told TOI before the Games.Money was always tight. Her daily earnings of Rs 400-500 barely covered the family’s expenses, while protein supplements alone cost nearly Rs 1,000. Eventually, he sold his e-rickshaw in 2023 to compete in the National Para Powerlifting Championships, a game he initially failed after he couldn’t register a successful lift.
The discovery that changed everything
Instead of giving up, Jhandu caught the attention of national coach Rajinder Singh Rahelu, who invited him to train at the Sports Authority of India’s National Center of Excellence in Gandhinagar. This opportunity transformed his career. He went on to win silver at the inaugural Khelo India Para Games, followed by medals at national and international competitions, including bronze at the Asia-Oceania Open Para Powerlifting Championships.In Glasgow, Jhandu lifted 190kg to secure bronze after opening with 181kg. He also attempted a Commonwealth Games record of 196kg in his final lift, but fell short.Despite missing the record, the medal meant everything.“I am very grateful that he let me practice so much and gave me so much love. I feel very good. I will try to do even better in the future,” he said.He also thanked the Sports Authority of India and the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) for supporting his journey.READ ALSO: From doubt to dominance: Jadumani Singh’s career move to 55kg fuels CWG dream“I am very grateful to them. We practice here, and this medal belongs to them, in a certain way,” he said.For Jhandu Kumar, the bronze medal is more than a sporting achievement. It is proof that determination, sacrifice and unwavering belief can lift a person far beyond the weight on the bar.