India’s First Medal in Para Powerlifting
Jhandu Kumar secured India‘s first medal at the Commonwealth Games, earning a bronze in the men’s heavyweight para powerlifting event. The 28-year-old athlete, who has overcome polio and financial challenges, achieved a score of 130.9 points. His successful lifts included 181kg and 190kg. He attempted a 196kg lift but was unable to complete it. This performance marked a significant moment for India on the second day of the games.
Kumar‘s journey to the international stage involved years of various odd jobs. Before transitioning to para powerlifting in 2022, he competed in para athletics, where he earned district and state-level medals in shot put and discus throw. He also participated in able-bodied powerlifting competitions, demonstrating his natural strength. Under the guidance of his coaches, he made the switch to para powerlifting and quickly made an impact, winning a silver medal in his debut competition in Kolkata. In 2025, he set a national record in the men’s 72kg category by lifting 205kg at the National Championships, and then improved it to 206kg at the Khelo India Para Games in New Delhi shortly after. He also earned bronze medals at the World Para Powerlifting World Cup and the Asia-Oceania Open Championships, and finished among the top six at the World Para Powerlifting Championships.
In the same event, fellow Indian athlete Sudhir finished sixth with 114.1 points. Sudhir lifted 182kg in his first attempt and 183kg in his second. He attempted a 211kg lift in his final try but was unsuccessful. Nigeria‘s Idris Riluwan claimed the gold medal with 132.8 points, while Matthew Harding secured silver with 131 points.
Mixed Results Across Other Events
India narrowly missed out on another medal in the men’s lightweight para powerlifting event, where Ashok Malik finished fourth with 143.8 points. England‘s Mark Swan won gold with 153.9 points, followed by Nigeria‘s Roland Ezuruike (153.9) with silver, and Malaysia‘s Bonnie Bunyau Gustin (153.5) with bronze. Paramjeet Kumar, another Indian competitor, placed seventh with 135.6 points.
In para swimming, Karthik Budigina also came close to a medal, finishing fourth in the men’s 100m Freestyle S13 final with a time of 57.57 seconds. His teammate, Imam Ali, finished seventh in 1:03.73. Earlier in the day, both swimmers had advanced to the final after qualifying from the heats, where Budigina placed third with 57.10 seconds and Ali qualified with 1:05.32 seconds. The gold medal in this event went to South Africa‘s Nathan Hendricks, who clocked 54.54 seconds. Scotland‘s Stephen Clegg took silver in 55.16 seconds, and England‘s Matthew Redfern secured bronze in 56.86 seconds. The S13 category is designated for athletes with visual impairments.
In boxing, Jadumani Singh made a successful start in the men’s 55kg competition. He advanced to the pre-quarterfinals after defeating Scotland‘s Aaron Cullen by unanimous decision in the Round of 32. Singh is set to face Pakistan‘s Sumama Rehman in the next round.
Lawn Bowls Success and Swimming Campaign Ends
India also had a strong showing in lawn bowls. The women’s pairs team, consisting of Rupa Rani Tirkey and Pinki Singh, achieved their second consecutive win. They defeated South Africa 2-0 (6-4, 7-5) in their Section B match at the Scottish Event Campus Hall 3.
In men’s singles lawn bowls, Putul Sonowal continued his winning streak. Following his victory over reigning world champion Ryan Bester of Canada on the opening day, Sonowal secured another hard-fought win against Cecil Alexander of the Falkland Islands. The match ended 1-1 in sets, leading to a tie-break. Sonowal recovered from a 3-4 deficit to win the first set 7-5, before Alexander claimed the second set 8-6. Sonowal maintained his composure in the tie-break to clinch the victory.
However, Srihari Nataraj‘s campaign in the men’s 50m backstroke concluded in the semifinals. The Indian swimmer finished seventh in his race with a time of 25.29 seconds, which was not enough to qualify for the final. South Africa‘s Pieter Coetze was the fastest qualifier with 24.29 seconds, followed by compatriot Ruard van Renen (24.56) and England‘s Oliver Morgan (24.65).
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
Priya Nair
Sports Reporter
