All posts tagged: Para Powerlifting

Para powerlifter Jhandu Kumar wins bronze in men’s heavyweight category

Para powerlifter Jhandu Kumar wins bronze in men’s heavyweight category

Published by Parlour News

2 min readUpdated: Jul 25, 2026 02:00 AM IST Para powerlifter Jhandu Kumar opened India’s medal account in the Commonwealth Games on late Friday night when he won the bronze medal in the Men’s Heavyweight category. Jhandu, who was in Group B, started with a successful 181 kg lift before following it up with another successful lift of 190 kgs. He finished with 130.9 points and maintained his lead for a while before he was pipped by Matthew Harding who finished second and eventual winner Riluwan Idris. Born in Harnaut, Nalanda district, Bihar, he was affected by polio since birth. The son of avegetable vendor, Jhandu comes from a humble family and overcame financial and physical challenges through determination and hard work. He began his sporting career in 2017 as a para athletics athlete, competing in the F55 shot put and discus throw events, where he won several district and state-level medals. During this period, strength training in the gym sparked his interest in powerlifting. Following a recommendation at a state championship, he switched to …

Jhandu Kumar wins Para Powerlifting bronze to open India’s medal haul

Jhandu Kumar wins Para Powerlifting bronze to open India’s medal haul

Published by Webster

India opened its medal account at the 2026 Commonwealth Games after Jhandu Kumar clinched the bronze medal in the men’s heavyweight para powerlifting Final in Glasgow in the early hours of Saturday (IST). The Indian registered a best successful lift of 190kg, which earned him 130.9 points and secured a place on the podium. Jhandu made a confident start by clearing 181kg in his opening attempt for 124.7 points before improving to 190kg in his second lift. The effort propelled him to the top of the standings at the time. The Indian then attempted 196kg in his final lift, a weight that would have set a new Commonwealth Games meet record from the Birmingham 2022 edition. However, he was unable to complete the lift successfully and had to settle for bronze. Earlier in the day, India’s campaign in the lightweight events ended without a medal. Ashok finished fourth in the men’s lightweight final after producing a personal-best lift of 200kg (143.8 points), while Paramjeet Kumar placed seventh with 176kg (135.6 points). In the women’s lightweight …

All you need to know about Kasthuri Rajamani

All you need to know about Kasthuri Rajamani

Published by Webster

Kasthuri Rajamani is an Indian wheelchair para-powerlifter hailing from Tamil Nadu. She represented India at the 2024 Paris Paralympics in women’s 67kg. The Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games will mark her debut at the quadrennial event. Early life Kasthuri, who was affected by polio in her childhood in both her legs, lost her mother at a young age and was raised by her grandmother. At the age of 34, she was introduced to para-powerlifting in 2018 when a friend who is a sport shooter took her for powerlifting training at a boxing academy at the Corporation Ground in Nungambakkam, Chennai. She was trained by G. Vijaya Sarathy, a senior para coach with the Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu, where she made swift progress in the sport, later representing India at the Asian Para Games in Hangzhou China. In 2023, she was recruited by the Sports Authority for India for further training. Tournaments and Achievements Paris Paralympics 2024: Kasturi finished 8th in the Women’s 67 kg final with a personal best score of 106 kg. Para …

All you need to know about Paramjeet Kumar

All you need to know about Paramjeet Kumar

Published by Webster

Paramjeet Kumar is one of India’s most decorated para powerlifters and is set to compete in his second Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. The 34-year-old became the first Indian powerlifter to win a medal at the World Para Powerlifting Championships, claiming bronze in the men’s up to 49kg category in 2021. Early days Hailing from Phillaur, Jalandhar, Punjab, Parmjeet Kumar comes from a modest family, with his father running a shop and his mother being a homemaker. Paramjeet has a disability in both of his legs, which were affected by polio when he was just 2 years old. He had to spend most of his childhood relying on crutches, a wheelchair, and a tricycle. He completed his Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) and was introduced to para powerlifting through his coach, Jitender Pal Singh, in the early 2000s. His dream of pursuing para powerlifting started when he saw the veteran Indian powerlifter Rajinder Singh Rahelu’s bronze medal-winning performance at the 2004 Athens Paralympics. In the initial years, he was under Rahelu’s guidance and in 2015, he also …

All you need to know about Sudhir

All you need to know about Sudhir

Published by Webster

Sudhir is a former Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games para powerlifting gold medallist whose title was later stripped following an anti-doping violation. A member of India’s para powerlifting team for the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, he will look to return to the podium after serving his suspension. A six-time national champion, Sudhir also won a bronze medal at the 2018 Asian Para Games. Early life Sudhir, born on October 27, 1994, is the son of a farmer from Lath village in Sonipat, Haryana. He contracted polio at the age of four following a high fever. He took up para powerlifting seriously in 2013 and made his international debut at the 2018 Asian Para Games, where he won a bronze medal. Tragically, his father passed away on the same day. Sudhir later completed a BA in Sanskrit from Maharshi Dayanand University, Rohtak, and now works as a Senior Weightlifting Coach with the Government of Haryana. He trains under former Indian wrestler Jitender Pal Singh (JP Singh). At the 2022 Commonwealth Games, he became India’s first-ever para …

Parmjeet, Sakina fail to win medal

Published by Webster

Indian para powerlifters kicked off their Paralympic campaign in Paris, but it was not a good outing for them. On Wednesday, Parmjeet Kumar and Sakina Khatun finished in 8th and 7th position, respectively. Paramjeet Kaur could only manage a lift of 150 Kg on his first attempt and then had two consecutive failed attempts at 157 and 161 Kg lifts in the men’s up to 49 Kg final. He will not be happy with his performance as his lift was way below his personal best of 166 Kg, which he lifted earlier this year at the Para Powerlifting World Cup. Last year, Parmjeet became the first powerlifter from India to win a medal at the World Para Powerlifting Championships and qualify for the Paralympic Games. Later in the day, Sakina Khatun also failed to impress and finished in 7th place in the final of women’s up to 45 kg category, with just one successful lift of 86 kg on her first attempt. This was Sakina’s second consecutive appearance at the Paralympics after Tokyo 2021, where …