Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday congratulated para powerlifter Jhandu Kumar after the Bihar-born athlete won India’s first medal at the Commonwealth Games 2026, securing bronze in the men’s heavyweight para powerlifting event in Glasgow.
Posting on X shortly after Kumar’s podium finish, Modi praised the athlete’s perseverance and said the achievement brought pride to the nation. “A spectacular performance by Jhandu Kumar, who has opened India’s medal tally at the #CWG2026 by winning a Bronze in the Men’s Heavyweight Para Powerlifting event!” the Prime Minister wrote.
The medal matters early in the Games as it opened India’s tally in Glasgow and provided an encouraging start to the country’s campaign, while also underlining India’s growing success in para sports on the international stage.
How Jhandu Kumar won India’s first CWG 2026 medal
Kumar finished third overall with a best lift of 130.9 in the men’s heavyweight event. The margins at the top were tight: Nigeria’s Riluwan Idris won gold with 132.8, while England’s Matthew Harding took silver with 131.0. Kumar was just 0.1 short of second place.
In his message, Modi highlighted the dedication behind the performance and pointed to its wider significance for aspiring athletes. “Congratulations to him. His achievement is a powerful reflection of immense strength, unwavering determination and years of disciplined effort. By overcoming every challenge and excelling on the international stage, he has made the entire nation proud and inspired countless Indians,” Modi said.
The report also noted that Kumar topped Group B ahead of Uganda’s Dennis Mbaziira and Australia’s Ben Wright, before his lift proved good enough for an overall bronze in the combined classification.
Close finish on the podium
With Harding’s silver lift listed at 131.0 and Kumar’s best at 130.9, the bronze came down to a razor-thin difference of 0.1. Idris led the field with 132.8 to secure the gold medal.
Background and what the bronze means for India
The 29-year-old’s journey to the Commonwealth Games podium has been shaped by resilience. Born in Harnaut in Bihar’s Nalanda district and affected by polio since birth, Kumar grew up in a modest household as the son of a vegetable vendor.
Before moving into para powerlifting, he initially competed in para athletics, taking part in the F55 shot put and discus throw events. The switch to para powerlifting came in 2017 after he discovered his strength during gym training, a turning point that ultimately led to his Commonwealth Games breakthrough in Glasgow.
Kumar’s bronze provides India with an early boost at CWG 2026 and sets a positive tone for the rest of the campaign, while the Prime Minister’s public message added national spotlight to the achievement.
