Commonwealth Games 2026 : All you need to know about Kasthuri Rajamani

Kasthuri Rajamani is an Indian wheelchair para-powerlifter hailing from Tamil Nadu. She represented India at the 2024 Paris Paralympics in women's 67kg.

The Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games will mark her debut at the quadrennial event.

Early life

Kasthuri, who was affected by polio in her childhood in both her legs, lost her mother at a young age and was raised by her grandmother.

At the age of 34, she was introduced to para-powerlifting in 2018 when a friend who is a sport shooter took her for powerlifting training at a boxing academy at the Corporation Ground in Nungambakkam, Chennai.

She was trained by G. Vijaya Sarathy, a senior para coach with the Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu, where she made swift progress in the sport, later representing India at the Asian Para Games in Hangzhou China.

In 2023, she was recruited by the Sports Authority for India for further training.

Tournaments and Achievements

Paris Paralympics 2024: Kasturi finished 8th in the Women’s 67 kg final with a personal best score of 106 kg.

Para Powerlifting World Cup 2024: Won a bronze medal in the Women’s 67kg with a lift of 105 kg.

Khelo India Para Games 2023: She won a gold medal in the elite 67kg event with a lift of 100kg in her third attempt.

2022 Asian Para Games at Hangzhou, China: Finished 5th in the Women’s 67 kg category.