National record holder Jhandu Kumar, who will be one of the two Para Powerlifters representing India at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games 2026 is diligently preparing for the prestigious event at the SAI, National Centre of Excellence(NCoE), Gandhinagar, he is looking forward to take part in the quadrennial event and promises to give his all during competition.

Jhandu, who has a national record of lifting 206 kgs to his name, while speaking to SAI Media said that he is capable of doing even better

"I lifted 206 kgs at the Khelo India Para Games 2025, in the future you will see me better my record, I have lifted up to 210 kgs in training and I am working hard to raise my capacity as much as possible. For me the larger picture is the 2028 Los Angeles Paralympics, it all depends on discipline and training."

When asked which country's contingent he thinks will be tough to beat at the Glasgow CWG games, 29 year old Jhandu insists that the challenge is not about trying to outdo the other but about conquering oneself

"It is not about the opponent, it is about conquering yourself, about a win over yourself, conquering your doubts and fears, I have won over myself in the past and I will win over myself in the future as well."

Jhandu, who took up Shot put, discus and javelin before switching to Para powerlifting spoke about his struggle, he recalled how his Coach Rajendra Singh Rahelu turned around his fortunes

"I used to sell potatoes, later during Covid pandemic I drove a Toto(e rickshaw), in 2022 I played the nationals while selling vegetables and still won a Bronze medal, then came the 2023 nationals in Delhi, I was running short of finances for my travel and diet, hence I had to sell off my Toto, despite all this I failed miserably at the competition, but there I met my Coach Rajendra Singh Rahelu sir, he consoled me, motivated me and assured that I will be selected in SAI. He stood by me during my low point and got me admitted in SAI centre, Gandhinagar in 2023, since then I followed sir's training and his discipline and my performances improved."

Arjun awardee Rajendra Singh Rahelu is one of the top Para Powerlifting Coaches in India, as an athlete he won a bronze medal at the 2004 Summer Paralympics, a Silver at the 2014 Commonwealth Games among other achievements. Rahelu was the first ever medallist for India in the powerlifting event.

Apart from Jhandu, another athlete coached by him- national record holder Jaspreet Kaur will be representing India at the upcoming CWG.

29 year old Jhandu, who will be the first Para athlete from Bihar to represent the country at the Commonwealth Games felt that sports in the eastern state is in an upward trajectory

"things are looking up as the state government is now promoting sports, now we have schemes like Utkarsh where Rs 20 lakhs is extended to the athletes, the Udaan scheme, national level athletes get Rs 5 lakhs, state level athletes receive Rs 3 lakhs, so I would advise Bihari players to work hard and believe in themselves, the government is behind them."

Since starting training at the SAI Centre, the performance of power lifter from Harnaut in Nalanda has improved drastically, 2025 was a particularly fruitful year, he clinched a Bronze medal in the 80kg category at the World Para-Powerlifting World Cup in Beijing, China, with an impressive lift of 192kgs, set the national record(206 kgs) at the Khelo India Para Games held in New Delhi, and finished sixth at the World Para Powerlifting Championships 2025 held in Cairo, Egypt (he lifted 198 kilograms).

He also expressed gratitude to SAI, NCoE, Gandhinagar "here I got a platform, I am grateful to them, due to their efforts I have been able to achieve so much and now I have been selected for the Commonwealth Games,"

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