India opened its medal account at the Commonwealth Games 2026 thanks to para powerlifter Jhandu Kumar, who secured a bronze medal in the men’s heavyweight event on Friday. The 28-year-old produced a composed performance to hand India its first podium finish of the competition, while fellow Indian lifter Sudhir ended the event in sixth place.

Jhandu’s medal provided a welcome boost for the Indian contingent after a series of near misses in the opening stages of the Games.

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Jhandu Kumar delivers bronze with consistent lifting display

Competing in Group B of the men’s heavyweight final, Jhandu made an impressive start by successfully lifting 181kg on his opening attempt.

The Bihar-born para powerlifter then attempted 196kg on his final lift but could not complete it. His total points remained at 130.9, a score that proved enough to keep him among the leading contenders heading into the conclusion of the event.

His performance also raised the pressure on the athletes competing in Group A, including fellow Indian lifter Sudhir, who needed a strong finish to challenge for a medal.

Gold and silver go to rivals as India claims bronze

Although Jhandu remained in the medal positions after Group B, two competitors eventually finished ahead of him.

Riluwan Idris produced the best performance of the competition to claim the gold medal, while Matthew Harding secured silver. Their higher scores pushed Jhandu into third place, but the Indian lifter held on to the bronze and earned the country’s first medal of the 2026 Commonwealth Games.

It was a significant breakthrough for India after waiting for its first podium finish at this year’s event.

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Sudhir falls short after bold final attempt

India also had another representative in the heavyweight final through Sudhir. The 31-year-old opened with a successful 182kg lift before improving to 183kg in his second attempt. Those efforts gave him a total of 114.1 points and kept him in contention heading into his final lift.

Looking to climb rapidly in the standings, Sudhir attempted an ambitious 211kg in his last effort. However, he was unable to complete the lift, ending his campaign in sixth position.

India’s medal wait continues in other events

The second day of the Commonwealth Games saw several Indian athletes come close to adding to the medal tally. Ashok Kumar Malik narrowly missed out on a podium finish in the men’s lightweight category after finishing fourth, leaving India just short of another medal.

Despite those disappointments, Jhandu’s bronze ensured the country opened its account at the Games.

Jhandu Kumar’s rise from Para-Athletics to national record holder

Jhandu’s journey to the Commonwealth Games podium has been built through steady progress over the past few years. Before switching to para powerlifting, he competed in para athletics and earned district and state-level medals in shot put and discus throw. He also tested himself in able-bodied powerlifting competitions before making the move to para powerlifting in 2022 on the advice of his coaches.

His transition brought immediate success. Jhandu won a silver medal in his first para powerlifting competition in Kolkata, announcing himself as one of India’s promising lifters.

In 2025, he broke the national record in the men’s 72kg category by lifting 205kg at the National Championships. Just days later, he improved that mark again with a successful 206kg lift at the Khelo India Para Games in New Delhi.

His rise continued on the international stage with bronze medals at the World Para Powerlifting World Cup and the Asia-Oceania Open Championships. He also finished among the top six at the World Para Powerlifting Championships.

Now, with a bronze medal at the Commonwealth Games 2026, Jhandu Kumar has added another major achievement to his growing list of accomplishments while giving India its first medal of the tournament.

FAQs

Who won India’s first medal at the Commonwealth Games 2026?

Para powerlifter Jhandu Kumar won India’s first medal with a bronze in the men’s heavyweight event.

How did Sudhir perform in the men’s heavyweight final?

Sudhir finished sixth after failing to complete his final lift of 211kg.