Rakesh Kumar (Paralympian)

Rakesh Kumar
Kumar in September 2024
Personal information
Born (1985-01-13) 13 January 1985 (age 39)
Katra, Jammu, Jammu and Kashmir, India
Sport
SportParalympic athletics, Para-archery
EventMen's Individual Compound Open
Coached byKuldeep Vedwan
Achievements and titles
Personal best1399 WR (2024)
Medal record
Men's compound para-archery
Representing  India
Paralympic Games
Bronze medal – third place 2024 Paris Mixed team compound
World Para Archery Championship
Gold medal – first place 2023 Plzeň Mixed Team Compound
Asian Para Games
Gold medal – first place 2022 Hangzhou Mixed Team Compound
Silver medal – second place 2022 Hangzhou Men's Individual Compound - Open
Silver medal – second place 2022 Hangzhou Men's Team Compound

Rakesh Kumar (born 13 January 1985)[1] is an Indian Paralympian archer[2] competing in the Men's Individual Compound Open. He qualified to represent India at the 2024 Summer Paralympics at Paris,[3] his second Olympics. He also won the bronze medal in the 2024 Summer Paralympics.

Career

He represented India at the 2020 Summer Paralympics, held in Tokyo, Japan.[4][5] He won a gold medal in the men's compound open section of the 7th Fazza Para Archery World Ranking Tournament, which was held in Dubai in February 2021.[6][7] Kumar is the highest-ranked compound archer in India with a world rankings of No. 1ref name=newsindian>"Archer Rakesh Kumar overcomes depression, ready to shine at Tokyo Paralympics". New Indian Express. 21 August 2021.</ref>

Rakesh was part of the team that won a gold medal in the team competition at the European Circuit 2nd leg in the year 2018 and won a bronze medal in the mixed team event at the 5th Fazza Para Archery World Ranking Tournament in the year 2019.[4]

He was trained at the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board's Sports Complex and he is native of Katra, Jammu.[8] In September 2021, the Lieutenant Governor of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, Manoj Sinha felicitated Rakesh Kumar for his performance in the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics.[9][8]

He also represented India in the 2024 Summer Paralympics, in which he won the bronze medal in the mixed team compound open with Sheetal Devi.

See also

References

  1. ^ "KUMAR Rakesh". Tokyo 2020 Paralympics. Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Archived from the original on 18 September 2021. Retrieved 18 September 2021.
  2. ^ "From suicide attempts to winning gold medals: The inspiring journey of para-archer Rakesh Kumar". Times of India. 28 February 2021.
  3. ^ Sportstar, Team (14 August 2024). "India at Paris Paralympics 2024: Complete list of 84 athletes at Paralympic Games". Sportstar. Retrieved 28 August 2024.
  4. ^ a b "Archer Rakesh Kumar overcomes depression, ready to shine at Tokyo Paralympics". New Indian Express. 21 August 2021.
  5. ^ "Tokyo Paralympics: Archer Rakesh Kumar storms into pre-quarters, Shyam Sundar Swami bows out in Round 2". India Today. 28 August 2021.
  6. ^ "Gold for Rakesh, mixed doubles pair in Fazza world ranking tournament". Hindustan Times. 28 February 2021.
  7. ^ "Indian para-archers ensure one gold, two silver at Fazza World Ranking tournament". Hindustan Times. 25 February 2021.
  8. ^ a b "LG hands over rights certificates to tribals". Hindustan Times. 18 September 2021.
  9. ^ "उपराज्यपाल मनोज सिन्हा ने पैरा ओलिंपियन राकेश कुमार, ज्योति बालियान को सम्मानित किया" (in Hindi). Dainik Jagran. 18 September 2021.


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