New Delhi: India opened its medal account at the Commonwealth Games 2026 after para powerlifter Jhandu Kumar secured a bronze medal in the men’s heavyweight event at the SEC Armadillo in Glasgow on Friday.
The podium finish gave India its first medal of the Games, highlighting the country’s campaign in para sports despite a challenging outing for the rest of the contingent, according to reports.
The 28-year-old competed in Group B and recorded a best lift of 190kg on his second attempt. Under the Commonwealth Games para powerlifting format, medals are awarded using a bodyweight coefficient system instead of the highest weight lifted. The formula combines an athlete’s bodyweight with the best successful lift to determine the final standings.
Jhandu began with a successful 181kg lift before improving to 190kg. He attempted 196kg in his final lift but failed to complete it. His performance earned 130.9 points, enough to finish third.
Nigeria’s Riluwan Idris won the gold medal after lifting 208kg to register 132.8 points. England’s Mathew Harding claimed silver with a 199kg lift and 131.0 points.
While Jhandu delivered India’s breakthrough medal, the remaining six Indian para powerlifters finished outside the podium places.
Sudhir, competing in the same heavyweight category, placed sixth with 114.1 points.
Earlier, Ashok Kumar Malik narrowly missed a medal in the men’s lightweight competition. The Paris 2024 Paralympian and 2023 Asian Para Games bronze medallist achieved a personal-best lift of 200kg and finished fourth with 143.8 points.
England’s Mark Swan secured the lightweight gold after lifting 222kg for 153.9 points. Nigeria’s Roland Ezuruike also finished on 153.9 points with a lift of 185kg but settled for silver under the competition’s ranking criteria. Malaysia’s Bonnie Bunyau Gustin took bronze with 220kg and 153.5 points.
At the end of the second day of competition, Australia led the Commonwealth Games 2026 medal standings with 12 medals, including five gold, two silver and five bronze.
