PM Modi Hails Jhandu Kumar After Para Powerlifter Secures India's Opening Medal at the 2026 Commonwealth Games

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday congratulated para powerlifter Jhandu Kumar for securing India's first medal at the Commonwealth Games 2026. Kumar claimed the bronze medal in the men's heavyweight para powerlifting event held in Glasgow, giving India its opening podium finish of the Games. Sharing a photograph of the athlete on X, the Prime Minister praised Kumar's remarkable achievement, describing it as a testament to his hard work, resilience and dedication.

In his message, Modi said Jhandu's bronze-medal performance had opened India's account at the Games and reflected exceptional strength, determination and years of disciplined training. He added that by overcoming numerous challenges and excelling on the international stage, the para powerlifter had made the country proud while inspiring millions across India.

Jhandu secured the bronze with a best lift of 190kg, earning 130.9 points. He began the competition by successfully lifting 181kg, which gave him 124.7 points, before improving to 190kg on his second attempt. That effort briefly placed him at the top of the leaderboard. Chasing the gold medal, Kumar opted for 196kg in his final attempt—a weight that would have surpassed the Commonwealth Games record established at Birmingham 2022. However, he was unable to complete the lift and ultimately finished third to claim the bronze.

His success also marked India's first para powerlifting medal at the 2026 Commonwealth Games. Ashok narrowly missed out on a podium finish after placing fourth in the men's lightweight final. He recorded a personal-best lift of 200kg, scoring 143.8 points. Paramjeet Kumar finished seventh in the same category with a best lift of 176kg.

In the women's lightweight division, Jaspreet Kaur ended sixth after successfully lifting 100kg, while Suman Devi finished seventh with the same weight. Kasthuri Rajamani, competing in the women's heavyweight event, failed to register a valid lift after all three of her attempts were unsuccessful.