Gandhinagar, Sept. 5 -- For para powerlifter Jhandu Kumar, the road to the Commonwealth Games podium was not just a sporting journey but a transformation made possible by determination, coaching and access to a high-performance training ecosystem at the Sports Authority of India's (SAI) National Centre of Excellence (NCoE) in Gandhinagar.

Jhandu, who once sold vegetables and drove an e-rickshaw to support his family, went on to win a bronze medal at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow after successfully lifting 190 kg in the heavyweight category of para powerlifting.

Speaking about SAI's contribution to his journey, Jhandu said the organisation played an 80-90 per cent role in his development as an athlete.

"Yes, SAI's (Sports Autho...