New Delhi: When “Jhandu Kumar” spoke on the stage at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, it was no longer a name that evoked derision. It was the name that had just delivered India’s first medal at the 2026 Commonwealth Games.Over the years, Bihar’s para powerlifter has endured scorn for a name born out of tragedy. On Friday, he turned that painful identification into a symbol of courage, winning bronze in the men’s weightlifting event and writing one of India’s most inspirational sports stories. The 28-year-old won bronze with 130.9 points after lifting 181kg and 190kg. A bold final attempt at 196kg, which would have put him in contention for the gold medal, escaped.
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However, standing on the field, Jhandu did not think much about the lost opportunity and about the exciting journey that brought him there.“The excitement is overwhelming. I haven’t been able to sleep since last night… Even if I sleep, sleep doesn’t just come,” he said during the Sports Authority India tie-up.
The painful story behind the name ‘Jhandu’
Long before becoming a medalist for India, Jhandu was five years old fighting polio in a small village in Bihar.“My family says that I contracted polio when I was 5 years old. I had to sit down and walk… People used to make fun of me. They said, ‘Now that you are disabled, what are you going to do?’,” he said.His unusual first name came from a painful headache. His parents were tired of the money they were saving trying to treat his illness. Family friends laughed at the situation, saying, “Aap ka beta sab jhandu kar diya, sab paisa khatam kar diya” (Your son has wasted all your money).The nickname stuck. For a while, he tried to escape by changing his name to Avinash Kumar. But when visiting the government office, officials repeatedly called “Jhandu Kumar.”Recalling the incident, he said the officials called him inside after repeatedly calling him “Jhandu Kumar” and laughing after confirming his name. Instead of hiding, he chose to own it.“I felt like everyone was laughing at my name… so the name is good,” he said. “Now in all our documents, it is Jhandu Kumar. Therefore, Avinash Kumar is no more.”
India’s Jhandu Kumar (PTI Photo)
From an e-rickshaw driver to a CWG medalist
To earn extra money and to continue his studies, Jhandu spent eight to nine months driving an e-rickshaw.“I drove an e-rickshaw to get my food. I thought I would earn Rs 200-400 and have extra with that and continue to exercise,” he said.“I used to go to the gym in the evening but the problem was that I was tired after driving all day, so the time to exercise was getting less and less,” he explained that driving was difficult due to polio.His sporting career began by accident. Originally a shot putter, he was persuaded to switch to para powerlifting by Bihar coach Kundan Pandey, who recognized his natural strength.In 2022, watching Sudhir win gold at the Commonwealth Games sparked a dream.“When the gym owner told me that Sudhir bhai had lifted 212kg and won the Commonwealth Games, I said I will do it again. I thought I should do it for my country,” he said.
Bronze today, big dreams tomorrow
Jhandu approached the competition with a clear approach: “My goal was to get the first lift. After that, the second lift was to enter the medal race. The third lift was for the gold medal.”The last attempt failed due to technical errors.“I couldn’t get the gold medal. It was a mistake. I made the mistake of breathing too fast. When I was climbing, I lifted well. But when I came out, it was rejected in the metal,” he added.Now training at the Sports Authority of India National Center of Excellence in Gandhinagar, he says life remains calm at home, where his parents continue to sell vegetables.But the bronze medal is just the beginning. His main goal is already set.“My journey has begun. Then I have the Para Asian Games and the Paralympics to prepare for,” he said. “There is a record of 232 kg. I want to break that record.”