Taunted for His Name, Jhandu Etches His Identity in Glasgow CWG
The para powerlifter lifted 190kg for bronze and said the medal would define him after years of ridicule over his name.
- On Friday, July 24, 2026, para powerlifter Jhandu Kumar secured India's first medal at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, clinching bronze with a 190kg lift in the men's heavyweight event.
- Afflicted by polio at age five, Kumar grew up in Bihar where his family struggled financially; his name translates to 'incompetent person' in Hindi, stemming from his father's frustration during childhood hardship.
- Training at the Sports Authority of India's Gandhinagar centre since 2023, Kumar previously sold his e-rickshaw to fund training and set a national record of 206kg before his international breakthrough.
- Nigerian prodigy Riluwan Idris won gold with a 208kg lift, while England's Matthew Harding took silver with 199kg, pushing Kumar's 190kg performance to third place in the competitive final round.
- Now an international medalist, Kumar hopes the victory encourages state government support and aims to be defined by his sporting excellence rather than his name from the village of Harnaut.
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Tumne parents ko Jhandu kar diya: How a childhood taunt turns Abhinav Kumar into CWG medallist Jhandu Kumar - The Tribune
After winning bronze in Glasgow, Jhandu Kumar revealed that he contracted polio at the age of five, and his parents spent all their savings on his treatment. Originally named Abhinav Kumar, he adopted the name "Jhandu Kumar" after people mocked his family for being left financially ruined.
Glasgow Commonwealth Games 2026: Bihar's 28-year-old para powerlifter Jhandu Kumar brought glory to the country by winning a bronze medal in the men's heavyweight category on Friday with a score of 130.9 points.
'Aap ka beta sab jhandu kar diya': India's CWG 2026 medallist reveals the painful story behind his name 'Jhandu' Kumar
Jhandu Kumar secured India's first medal at the 2026 Commonwealth Games. He won bronze in para powerlifting after successful lifts of 181kg and 190kg. His journey began with polio and taunts over a name born from hardship. Kumar previously worked as an e-rickshaw driver to fund his training. He now aims to break records at future Para Asian Games and Paralympics.
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