India, July 26 -- Para powerlifter Jhandu Kumar's journey to India's first medal at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games, a bronze in men's heavyweight para powerlifting, didn't begin directly on the international stage. It was forged on Delhi's pavements, behind the wheel of an e-rickshaw, and through a fierce refusal to be written off. Diagnosed with polio at five, Kumar grew up surrounded by doubters. "Yeh ladka kuch nahin karega. They called me zero," the 28-year-old recalls, adding, "I didn't know what I would become, but I knew that it couldn't be my story." His turning point came in the form of a tricycle. Riding it seven kilometres every day to a local gym slowly transformed his body. "I started noticing muscles... I'd stand in front of the mirror and think, wow, I actually look good," he says. Powerlifting found him soon after. In 2019, he participated in a local competition, winning a gold medal, Rs.500 and a box of protein. "I couldn't sleep that night because I was so happy. That's when I realised I had found my voice," Kumar shares. To fund his dream, he sold vegetables with his parents and drove an e-rickshaw. He even sold that at half price to afford training for the 2023 Nationals, only to return empty-handed. "I didn't win a single medal. I was shattered," he says. Devastated, he pushed on. Months later, the Sports Authority of India inducted him into its programme, taking care of his coaching, diet and training, that paved his path to Glasgow. Yet, despite standing on the Commonwealth podium, his ground reality remains the same: "I still struggle financially. I still go back and sell vegetables," Kumar shares....