From selling vegetables to Commonwealth medal: Now Jhandu Kumar dreams of Asian Para Games glory

Kolkata: Not too long ago, Jhandu Kumar used to sell vegetables and drive an e-rickshaw to meet his own expenses and help run the family household. Today, the Bihar para-powerlifter is a Commonwealth Games bronze medallist, has secured a government job and is preparing to represent India at Asian Para Games.For Jhandu, who finished on the podium in the men’s heavyweight para-powerlifting event at the 2026 Commonwealth Games with a 190kg lift, the transformation still feels like a dream.“Yes, absolutely. It feels like a dream. A boy from a village who worked hard is now making a name for himself across the country,” Jhandu told TOI from Aichi-Nagoya. “I cannot express how happy I am. Words fail me. Now I have another opportunity at the Asian Para Games to represent my country.”The athlete from Harnaut village in Bihar’s Nalanda district will compete in the 72kg category on Tuesday. He continued his training for the Games at the National Centre of Excellence in Gandhinagar under coach Rajinder Singh Rahelu. More than making drastic changes to his training, he concentrated on strengthening the self-belief that has driven his rise.“The basic approach remains the same. For me, it is about maintaining that inner drive and staying motivated. I have this determination within me: ‘I will do it, I will definitely succeed,’” said the 29-year-old. “That has been my main focus, to perform even better.”However, Jhandu knows there will be little margin for error in a competitive field. Asked what sort of lift could put him in medal contention, he said the numbers alone would not determine the outcome.“A medal could come at 200kg, 205kg or even 190kg. During competition, the mind works differently. You have to manage everything, and there is pressure,” he said. “You have to handle that pressure, and then it depends on how your body responds and how much you can push yourself.”Irrespective of the numbers, Jhandu expects stiff competition and is relishing the challenge. “There are many strong competitors. Lifter from China and Malaysia will be among them, apart from athletes from several other countries. Competition is inevitable. In fact, without competition, it would not be exciting,” Jhandu said.Despite all that he has achieved, Jhandu admits his journey still feels surreal. “Honestly, I never imagined that I would one day compete at Commonwealth Games or Asian Para Games. My focus was simply on working hard and winning a medal for my country,” he said.That hard work has paid off, and the medal in Glasgow did more than establish Jhandu on the international stage. It changed his life back home, too. The reception he received and the support from the Bihar govt, including a govt job, have given him even greater motivation to succeed.None of it, he believes, would have been possible without his family’s support.“My family has always been a huge source of motivation and support. They supported me even when I was selling vegetables and driving an e-rickshaw,” said the para-lifter, who was affected by polio at the age of five. “It is difficult to put into words how much my family has done for me.”The Asian Para Games may be the immediate assignment, but Jhandu already has a bigger destination in mind. “My main target is the Paralympics. I am determined to win a Paralympic medal for India,” he said. “I am prepared to put in whatever hard work is required.”For the boy from a small village in Bihar, the journey that once seemed unimaginable has only made him dream bigger.Stay updated with the latest Asian Games 2026 news, check the Asian Games medal tally and complete Asian Games schedule.Get the latest Sports News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.