'Sab jhandu kar diya': Jhandu Kumar on the painful origin of his name after India’s first CWG 2026 medal

Jhandu Kumar claimed India’s first medal at the 2026 Commonwealth Games, taking bronze in the para powerlifting competition. He recorded successful lifts of 181kg and 190kg and spoke about the personal struggles that shaped his life and identity.

Born with polio, Kumar has endured years of taunts linked to a name he says came from hardship. He supported his athletic ambitions by working as an e-rickshaw driver to pay for training before reaching the Commonwealth podium. The medal represents both a sporting milestone and a personal vindication for him.

In competition, Kumar completed lifts of 181kg and 190kg, which secured him the bronze medal in his para powerlifting category. Those totals were enough to place him on the podium as India opened its account at the Games. The result sent a clear message about his progress in the sport after years of struggle.

Outside the arena, Kumar recounted the difficulties he has faced since childhood, including the stigma that followed his condition and his name. "Sab jhandu kar diya", he said, using the phrase that has become entwined with his story. The comment highlighted the emotional cost of overcoming social prejudice in addition to physical challenges.

Kumar’s path to the Commonwealth stage included the practical reality of financing his own preparation; he worked as an e-rickshaw driver to afford coaching and equipment. That commitment to self-funding is part of the narrative surrounding his rise in para powerlifting. His bronze medal is therefore seen both as sporting achievement and the result of long-term personal sacrifice.

The athlete has set his sights beyond this podium finish, expressing ambitions to push further at multisport events. He aims to break records at the Para Asian Games and the Paralympics as he builds on the momentum from this performance. For Kumar, the bronze in 2026 is a stepping stone toward loftier targets in his career.

Kumar’s medal combines athletic success with a deeply personal story of resilience in the face of illness, social derision and financial hurdles. The para powerlifter’s immediate goal remains to translate this breakthrough into record-setting performances at the Para Asian Games and the Paralympics.