India’s First Medal and Para Powerlifting Results
India concluded Day 2 of the Commonwealth Games with its initial medal, alongside several promising performances in various disciplines including para powerlifting, swimming, boxing, and lawn bowls. Athletes continued to advance in their respective events, showcasing their competitive spirit.
Jhandu Kumar secured India’s first medal by winning bronze in the men’s heavyweight para powerlifting event. The 28-year-old athlete achieved 130.9 points, successfully lifting 181kg and 190kg. He was unable to complete his final attempt of 196kg. Another Indian participant in the event, Sudhir, finished sixth with 114.1 points. Nigeria’s Idris Riluwan claimed gold with 132.8 points, while Matthew Harding earned silver with 131 points.
Ashok Malik narrowly missed a medal in the men’s lightweight para powerlifting event, finishing fourth with 143.8 points. England’s Mark Swan won gold with 153.9 points, Nigeria’s Roland Ezuruike took silver with 153.9 points, and Malaysia’s Bonnie Bunyau Gustin claimed bronze. India’s Paramjeet Kumar finished seventh with 135.6 points.
Swimming and Boxing Performances
In para swimming, Karthik Budigina came close to a medal, finishing fourth in the men’s 100m Freestyle S13 final with a time of 57.57 seconds. His teammate, Imam Ali, finished seventh in 1:03.73. South Africa’s Nathan Hendricks secured gold in 54.54 seconds, Scotland’s Stephen Clegg took silver in 55.16 seconds, and England’s Matthew Redfern won bronze in 56.86 seconds. Both Budigina and Imam Ali had advanced to the final earlier in the day, with Budigina finishing third in the heats with a time of 57.10 seconds and Imam Ali qualifying with 1:05.32 seconds.
Indian boxer Jadumani Singh began his campaign successfully in the men’s 55kg competition. He defeated Scotland’s Aaron Cullen by unanimous decision in the Round of 32, advancing to the pre-quarterfinals where he is set to face Pakistan’s Sumama Rehman.
Srihari Nataraj’s participation in the men’s 50m backstroke concluded in the semifinals. The Indian swimmer finished seventh in his race with a time of 25.29 seconds, not qualifying for the final. South Africa’s Pieter Coetze qualified fastest in 24.29 seconds, followed by Ruard van Renen (24.56) and England’s Oliver Morgan (24.65).
Lawn Bowls Success
India also experienced a strong day in lawn bowls. The women’s pairs team, consisting of Rupa Rani Tirkey and Pinki Singh, achieved their second consecutive win. They defeated South Africa 2-0 (6-4, 7-5) in their Section B match at the Scottish Event Campus Hall 3.
In men’s singles, Putul Sonowal followed up his opening-day victory over Ryan Bester of Canada with another hard-fought win. Sonowal defeated Cecil Alexander of the Falkland Islands in a tie-break after the match ended 1-1 in sets. Sonowal recovered from a 3-4 deficit to win the opening set 7-5, before Alexander claimed the second set 8-6, leading to Sonowal’s tie-break victory.
Jhandu Kumar, born in Bihar, transitioned to para powerlifting in 2022 after competing in para athletics, where he won district and state-level medals in shot put and discus throw. He also participated in able-bodied powerlifting competitions. He won a silver medal at his debut competition in Kolkata and broke the national record in the men’s 72kg category, lifting 205kg at the National Championships and 206kg at the Khelo India Para Games in New Delhi.
Jhandu Kumar’s bronze medal in the men’s heavyweight para powerlifting event marks India’s first medal at the Commonwealth Games 2026.
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
