Glasgow, July 25:
India’s Jhandu Kumar overcame a childhood marked by polio, poverty, and years of odd jobs to secure the men’s heavyweight para powerlifting bronze medal at the Commonwealth Games on Friday, delivering the country’s first medal of the competition.
The 28-year-old amassed 130.9 points to finish on the podium after successfully lifting 181kg and 190kg. He failed in his final attempt at 196kg. The other Indian in the fray, Sudhir (114.1), finished sixth.
Nigeria’s Idris Riluwan scored 132.8 points to win the gold, while Matthew Harding (131) took home the silver medal.
With several medal events still to come over the weekend, India will hope those encouraging displays translate into a richer medal haul in Glasgow.