Jhandu Kumar’s road to glory: How former e-rickshaw driver became India’s Commonwealth hero

Glasgow: India’s campaign at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow got off to a historic start when para powerlifter Jhandu Kumar clinched the bronze medal in the men’s heavyweight event, securing the country’s first podium finish of the multi-sport competition.

Competing in Glasgow, Jhandu amassed 130.9 points after successfully lifting 181kg and 190kg. He made a bold attempt at 196kg in his final lift—which would have broken the Commonwealth Games meet record set at Birmingham 2022—but narrowly missed it after the barbell caught on the rack. Nigeria’s Idris Riluwan captured the gold with 132.8 points, while Matthew Harding of England took silver with 131.0 points.

Behind the gleaming bronze medal lies a remarkable tale of extreme adversity and perseverance. Born in Harnaut village in Bihar’s Nalanda district, Jhandu contracted polio at the age of five. Coming from a humble background as the son of a vegetable vendor, he initially helped his parents sell vegetables and navigated immense financial hardships.

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To support his family and fund his early sporting ambitions during the COVID-19 pandemic, Jhandu drove an e-rickshaw and pedalled roughly 20 kilometres daily to local markets to manage a small vegetable trade, he told TOI. Balancing gruelling daily labour with strength training, he later sold his e-rickshaw in 2023 to finance his trip to the National Para Powerlifting Championships.

Though that initial national outing ended without a registered lift, it marked a crucial turning point. Paralympic bronze medallist Rajinder Singh Rahelu spotted his potential and invited him to train at the Sports Authority of India (SAI) National Centre of Excellence in Gandhinagar. Under expert guidance, Jhandu’s career skyrocketed; he set a national record with a 205kg lift at the National Championships (later improved to 206kg at the Khelo India Para Games), claimed bronze at the 2025 Beijing World Cup, and added another bronze at the 2026 Asian & Oceania Championships before breaking through on the Commonwealth stage.

Reflecting on his emotional victory to the Press Trust of India (PTI), Jhandu expressed immense pride: "It is very important for India, the first medal. When I see my flag, I feel very happy".