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Kumar Nitesh

{{short description|Indian para-badminton player (born 1994)}}

{{Use Indian English|date=September 2024}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2024}}

{{Infobox badminton player

| name = Nitesh Kumar

| image =Nitesh Kumar in January 2025.jpg

| alt =

| caption =Kumar in January 2025

| country = {{IND}}

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1994|12|30|df=yes}}

| birth_place = Bas Kirtan, Rajasthan, India

| residence = Karnal, Haryana, India

| height =

| weight =

| handedness = Right

| coach =

| years_active = 2016–present

| event = Men's singles SL3
Men's doubles SL3–SL4

| highest_ranking = Men's singles
3 (2022)
Men's doubles
2; with Tarun Dhillon (2022)

| current_ranking = Men's singles: 1
Men's doubles: 5

| bwfbadminton_id = P70490

| bwfpara_id = 7E08A24F-5024-4D26-9BBF-FB48E9DA890C

| medaltemplates =

{{MedalSport|Men's para-badminton}}

{{MedalCountry|{{IND}}}}

{{MedalCompetition|Paralympic Games}}

{{MedalGold|2024 Paris|Men's singles}}

{{MedalCompetition|World Championships}}

{{MedalSilver|2019 Basel|Men's doubles}}

{{MedalSilver|2022 Tokyo|Men's singles}}

{{MedalBronze|2024 Pattaya|Men's singles}}

{{MedalCompetition|Asian Para Games}}

{{MedalGold|2022 Hangzhou|Men's doubles}}

{{MedalSilver|2022 Hangzhou|Men's singles}}

{{MedalBronze|2018 Jakarta|Men's doubles }}

{{MedalBronze|2022 Hangzhou|Mixed doubles}}

}}

Nitesh Kumar (born 30 December 1994) is an Indian para-badminton player.{{Cite web |url=https://bwfpara.tournamentsoftware.com/player-profile/7e08a24f-5024-4d26-9bbf-fb48e9da890c/biography |title=Player Profile}} He won a gold at the 2024 Paris Paralympics in the men's singles SL3 category.{{Cite web |last=Sportstar |first=Team |date=2 September 2024 |title=Paralympics 2024: Nitesh Kumar wins gold in para-badminton men's singles SL3 |url=https://sportstar.thehindu.com/olympics/paris-paralympics-2024/news/nitesh-kumar-gold-medal-paris-paralympics-2024-mens-singles-sl3-daniel-bethell-score-result-para-badminton-news/article68596306.ece/amp/ |access-date=2 September 2024 |website=sportstar.thehindu.com |language=en}} He is a two-time silver and one-time bronze medalist at the World Championships. Kumar has won one gold, one silver and two bronze medals at the Asian Para Games over the years.{{Cite web |title=Asian Para Games: Shuttler duo of Nitesh-Tarun claim yet another gold for India |url=https://www.aninews.in/news/sports/others/asian-para-games-shuttler-duo-of-nitesh-tarun-claim-yet-another-gold-for-india20231027131618/ |access-date=3 September 2024 |website=ANI News |language=en}}

Early life and education

Kumar was born on 30 December 1994 in Bas Kirtan, Rajasthan. In 2009, he lost his left leg in a train accident in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. After bed ridden for many months, he prepared for IIT entrance exam for over a year and joined Indian Institute of Technology, Mandi in 2014. He started playing badminton at IIT and in 2016 represented the Haryana team at the Para National Championships.{{Cite web |title=Who Is Nitesh Kumar: IIT Graduate Who Won Paris Paralympics 2024 Gold For India {{!}} Olympics News |url=https://sports.ndtv.com/olympics/who-is-nitesh-kumar-iit-graduate-who-won-paris-paralympics-2024-for-india-6473242 |access-date=2 September 2024 |website=NDTVSports.com |language=en}} He resides at Karnal, Haryana and is supported by sports NGO, Olympic Gold Quest.{{Cite web |date=2 September 2024 |title=IIT graduate, gold in Paralympics: Nitesh Kumar living India's dream in Paris |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/sports/paralympics/story/india-paralympics-badminton-godl-medal-nitesh-kumar-2592296-2024-09-02 |access-date=2 September 2024 |website=India Today |language=en}}

Career

He made his international debut in 2016. In 2017, he won his first title at the Irish Para-Badminton International. Later, he took part and won matches at BWF Para Badminton World Circuit and won a gold medal at the 2022 Asian Para Games at Hangzhou, China.

He became the world number 3 in the SL3 category on 14 June 2022.{{Cite web |url=https://bwfpara.tournamentsoftware.com/ranking/player.aspx?id=32786&player=3519929 |title=BWF Para-Badminton – BWF Para Badminton World Rankings |website=bwfpara.tournamentsoftware.com |accessdate=3 September 2024}}

= Coaching career =

In 2019, he started working as Senior Badminton Coach at the Department of Sports and Youth Affairs, Haryana.{{cite web |url=https://thebridge.in/badminton/para-shuttler-nitesh-kumar-iit/ |title=Nitesh Kumar: The para shuttler from IIT chasing big dreams |date=25 April 2019}}

Achievements

= Paralympic Games =

Men's singles SL3

class="sortable wikitable" style="font-size: 90%;"

! Year

! Venue

! Opponent

! Score

! Result

style="background:#F3E6D7"

| align="center" | 2024

| align="left" | Porte de La Chapelle Arena, Paris, France

| align="left" | {{flagicon|GBR}} Daniel Bethell

| align="left" | 21–14, 18–21, 23–21

| style="text-align:left; background:white" | 16px Gold

= World Championships =

Men's singles

class="sortable wikitable" style="font-size: 90%;"

! Year

! Venue

! Opponent

! Score

! Result

style="background:#F3E6D7"

| align="center" | 2022

| align="left" | Yoyogi National Gymnasium, Tokyo, Japan

| align="left" | {{flagicon|IND}} Pramod Bhagat

| align="left" | 19–21, 19–21

| style="text-align:left; background:white" | Silver Silver

style="background:#F3E6D7"

| align="center" | 2024

| align="left" | Pattaya Exhibition and Convention Hall, Pattaya, Thailand

| align="left" | {{flagicon|ENG}} Daniel Bethell

| align="left" | 18–21, 22–20, 14–21

| style="text-align:left; background:white" | Bronze Bronze

Men's doubles

class="sortable wikitable" style="font-size: 90%;"

! Year

! Venue

! Partner

! Opponent

! Score

! Result

style="background:#F3E6D7"

| align="center" | 2019

| align="left" | St. Jakobshalle,
Basel, Switzerland

| align="left" | {{flagicon|IND}} Tarun Dhillon

| align="left" | {{flagicon|IND}} Pramod Bhagat
{{flagicon|IND}} Manoj Sarkar

| align="left" | 21–14, 15–21, 16–21

| style="text-align:left; background:white" | Silver Silver

= Asian Para Games =

Men's singles

class="sortable wikitable" style="font-size: 90%;"

! Year

! Venue

! Opponent

! Score

! Result

style="background:#FFB069"

| align="center" | 2022

| align="left" | Binjiang Gymnasium, Hangzhou, China

| align="left" | {{flagicon|IND}} Pramod Bhagat

| align="left" | 20–22, 21–18, 19–21

| style="text-align:left; background:white" | Silver Silver

Men's doubles

class="sortable wikitable" style="font-size: 90%;"

! Year

! Venue

! Partner

! Opponent

! Score

! Result

style="background:#FFB069"

| align="center" | 2018

| align="left" | Istora Gelora Bung Karno,
Jakarta, Indonesia

| align="left" | {{flagicon|IND}} Anand Kumar Boregowda

| align="left" | {{flagicon|KOR}} Jeon Sun-woo
{{flagicon|KOR}} Joo Dong-jae

| align="left" | 16–21, 11–21

| style="text-align:left; background:white" | Bronze Bronze

style="background:#FFB069"

| align="center" | 2022

| align="left" | Binjiang Gymnasium,
Hangzhou, China

| align="left" | {{flagicon|IND}} Sukant Kadam

| align="left" | {{flagicon|INA}} Dwiyoko
{{flagicon|INA}} Fredy Setiawan

| align="left" | 9–21, 21–19, 22–20

| style="text-align:left; background:white" | Gold Gold

Mixed doubles

class="sortable wikitable" style="font-size: 90%;"

! Year

! Venue

! Partner

! Opponent

! Score

! Result

style="background:#FFB069"

| align="center" | 2022

| align="left" | Binjiang Gymnasium,
Hangzhou, China

| align="left" | {{flagicon|IND}} Thulasimathi Murugesan

| align="left" | {{flagicon|INA}} Fredy Setiawan
{{flagicon|INA}} Khalimatus Sadiyah

| align="left" | 17–21, 12–21

| style="text-align:left; background:white" | Bronze Bronze

= BWF Para Badminton World Circuit (12 titles, 11 runners-up) =

The BWF Para Badminton World Circuit – Grade 2, Level 1, 2 and 3 tournaments has been sanctioned by the Badminton World Federation from 2022.{{cite news |title=Para Badminton Tournament Structure Bids for Tournaments 2022 Onwards |url=https://corporate.bwfbadminton.com/news-single/2021/06/03/para-badminton-tournament-structure-bids-for-tournaments-2022-onwards |website=Badminton World Federation |date=29 May 2022 |language=en}} {{cite news |title=BWF Para Tournamentsoftware |url=https://bwfpara.tournamentsoftware.com/ |website=Badminton World Federation |date=11 July 2022 |language=en}}

Men's singles

class="sortable wikitable" style="font-size: 90%;"

! Year

! Tournament

! Level

! Opponent

! Score

! Result

align="center" | 2022

| align="left" | Spanish Para Badminton International II

| align="left" | Level 2

| align="left" | {{flagicon|IND}} Pramod Bhagat

| align="left" | 21–17, 17–21, 17–21

| style="text-align:left; background:white" | {{silver2}} Runner-up

align="center" | 2022

| align="left" | Brazil Para Badminton International

| align="left" | Level 2

| align="left" | {{flagicon|JPN}} Daisuke Fujihara

| align="left" | 21–15, 18–21, 21–18

| style="text-align:left; background:white" | {{gold1}} Winner

align="center" | 2022

| align="left" | Dubai Para Badminton International

| align="left" | Level 2

| align="left" | {{flagicon|IND}} Pramod Bhagat

| align="left" | 21–19, 17–21, 17–21

| style="text-align:left; background:white" | {{silver2}} Runner-up

align="center" | 2023

| align="left" | Brazil Para Badminton International

| align="left" | Level 2

| align="left" | {{flagicon|IND}} Pramod Bhagat

| align="left" | 21–12, 21–13

| style="text-align:left; background:white" | {{gold1}} Winner

align="center" | 2023

| align="left" | Bahrain Para Badminton International

| align="left" | Level 2

| align="left" | {{flagicon|IND}} Pramod Bhagat

| align="left" | 16–21, 17–21

| style="text-align:left; background:white" | {{silver2}} Runner-up

align="center" | 2023

| align="left" | Western Australia Para Badminton International

| align="left" | Level 2

| align="left" | {{flagicon|IND}} Manoj Sarkar

| align="left" | 21–14, 21–14

| style="text-align:left; background:white" | {{gold1}} Winner

align="center" | 2024

| align="left" | Spanish Para Badminton International II

| align="left" | Level 2

| align="left" | {{flagicon|IND}} Manoj Sarkar

| align="left" | 21–17, 21–14

| style="text-align:left; background:white" | {{gold1}} Winner

align="center" | 2024

| align="left" | Spanish Para Badminton International I

| align="left" | Level 1

| align="left" | {{flagicon|UKR}} Oleksandr Chyrkov

| align="left" | 21–11, 21–13

| style="text-align:left; background:white" | {{gold1}} Winner

align="center" | 2024

| align="left" | 4 Nations Para Badminton International

| align="left" | Level 1

| align="left" | {{flagicon|ENG}} Daniel Bethell

| align="left" | 11–21, 7–21

| style="text-align:left; background:white" | {{silver2}} Runner-up

Men's doubles

class="sortable wikitable" style="font-size: 90%;"

! Year

! Tournament

! Level

!Partner

! Opponent

! Score

! Result

align="center" | 2022

| align="left" | Spanish Para Badminton International II

| align="left" | Level 2

| align="left" | {{flagicon|IND}} Sukant Kadam

| align="left" | {{flagicon|IND}} Pramod Bhagat
{{Flagicon|IND}} Manoj Sarkar

| align="left" | 19–21, 21–11, 11–21

| style="text-align:left; background:white" | {{silver2}} Runner-up

align="center" | 2022

| align="left" | Brazil Para Badminton International

| align="left" | Level 2

| align="left" | {{flagicon|IND}} Tarun Dhillon

| align="left" | {{flagicon|IND}} Mohammad Arwaz Ansari
{{Flagicon|IND}} Deep Ranjan Bisoyee

| align="left" | 21–13, 17–21, 18–21

| style="text-align:left; background:white" | {{silver2}} Runner-up

align="center" | 2022

| align="left" | Bahrain Para Badminton International

| align="left" | Level 2

| align="left" | {{flagicon|IND}} Tarun Dhillon

| align="left" | {{flagicon|THA}} Mongkhon Bunsun
{{Flagicon|THA}} Siripong Teamarrom

| align="left" | 21–13, 21–7

| style="text-align:left; background:white" | {{gold1}} Winner

align="center" | 2023

| align="left" | Spanish Para Badminton International II

| align="left" | Level 2

| align="left" | {{flagicon|IND}} Tarun Dhillon

| align="left" | {{flagicon|IND}} Pramod Bhagat
{{Flagicon|IND}} Sukant Kadam

| align="left" | 20–22, 21–12, 9–21

| style="text-align:left; background:white" | {{silver2}} Runner-up

align="center" | 2023

| align="left" | Thailand Para Badminton International

| align="left" | Level 2

| align="left" | {{flagicon|IND}} Tarun Dhillon

| align="left" | {{flagicon|IND}} Pramod Bhagat
{{Flagicon|IND}} Sukant Kadam

| align="left" | 21–18, 14–21, 19–21

| style="text-align:left; background:white" | {{silver2}} Runner-up

align="center" | 2023

| align="left" | Bahrain Para Badminton International

| align="left" | Level 2

| align="left" | {{flagicon|IND}} Tarun Dhillon

| align="left" | {{flagicon|IND}} Pramod Bhagat
{{Flagicon|IND}} Sukant Kadam

| align="left" | 24–22, 9–21, 14–21

| style="text-align:left; background:white" | {{silver2}} Runner-up

rowspan="4" align="center" | 2023

| rowspan="4" align="left" | Canada Para Badminton International

| rowspan="4" align="left" | Level 1

| rowspan="4" align="left" | {{flagicon|IND}} Tarun Dhillon

| align="left" | {{flagicon|IND}} Nilesh Gaikwad
{{Flagicon|IND}} Nehal Gupta

| align="left" | 21–12, 21–8

| rowspan="4" style="text-align:left; background:white" | {{gold1}} Winner

align="left" | {{flagicon|FRA}} Guillaume Gailly
{{Flagicon|CAN}} William Roussy

| align="left" | 21–13, 21–12

align="left" | {{flagicon|IND}} Deep Ranjan Bisoyee
{{Flagicon|IND}} Manoj Sarkar

| align="left" | 21–9, 17–21, 21–16

align="left" | {{flagicon|IND}} Pramod Bhagat
{{Flagicon|IND}} Sukant Kadam

| align="left" | 11–21, 21–16, 21–16

align="center" | 2022

| align="left" | Bahrain Para Badminton International

| align="left" | Level 2

| align="left" | {{flagicon|IND}} Tarun Dhillon

| align="left" | {{flagicon|THA}} Mongkhon Bunsun
{{Flagicon|THA}} Siripong Teamarrom

| align="left" | 21–13, 21–7

| style="text-align:left; background:white" | {{gold1}} Winner

align="center" | 2023

| align="left" | Spanish Para Badminton International II

| align="left" | Level 2

| align="left" | {{flagicon|IND}} Tarun Dhillon

| align="left" | {{flagicon|IND}} Pramod Bhagat
{{Flagicon|IND}} Sukant Kadam

| align="left" | 20–22, 21–12, 9–21

| style="text-align:left; background:white" | {{silver2}} Runner-up

Mixed doubles

class="sortable wikitable" style="font-size: 90%;"

! Year

! Tournament

! Level

! Partner

! Opponent

! Score

! Result

align="center" | 2023

| align="left" | Brazil Para-Badminton International

| Level 2

| align="left" | {{flagicon|IND}} Thulasimathi Murugesan

| align="left" | {{flagicon|INA}} Hikmat Ramdani
{{flagicon|INA}} Leani Ratri Oktila

| align="left" | 18–21, 9–21

| style="text-align:left; background:white" | {{silver2}} Runner-up

align="center" | 2023

| align="left" | Uganda Para Badminton International

| Level 3

| align="left" | {{flagicon|IND}} Thulasimathi Murugesan

| align="left" | {{flagicon|IND}} Naveen Sivakumar
{{Flagicon|IND}} Palak Kohli

| align="left" | 21–12, 21–11

| style="text-align:left; background:white" | {{gold1}} Winner

align="center" | 2023

| align="left" | Western Australia Para Badminton International

| Level 2

| align="left" | {{flagicon|IND}} Thulasimathi Murugesan

| align="left" | {{flagicon|INA}} Fredy Setiawan
{{flagicon|INA}} Khalimatus Sadiyah

| align="left" | 15–21, 22–20, 21–19

| style="text-align:left; background:white" | {{gold1}} Winner

align="center" | 2024

| align="left" | Spanish Para Badminton International II

| Level 2

| align="left" | {{flagicon|IND}} Thulasimathi Murugesan

| align="left" | {{flagicon|IND}} Chirag Baretha
{{Flagicon|IND}} Mandeep Kaur

| align="left" | 21–11, 21–16

| style="text-align:left; background:white" | {{gold1}} Winner

align="center" | 2024

| align="left" | Spanish Para Badminton International I

| Level 1

| align="left" | {{flagicon|IND}} Thulasimathi Murugesan

| align="left" | {{flagicon|FRA}} Lucas Mazur
{{flagicon|FRA}} Faustine Noël

| align="left" | 22–20, 21–15

| style="text-align:left; background:white" | {{gold1}} Winner

= International Tournaments (7 runners-up) =

Men's singles

class="sortable wikitable" style="font-size: 90%;"

! Year

! Tournament

! Opponent

! Score

! Result

align="center" | 2018

| align="left" | Uganda Para Badminton International

| align="left" | {{flagicon|IND}} Umesh Vikram Kumar

| align="left" | 21–17, 15–21, 15–21

| style="text-align:left; background:white" | {{silver2}} Runner-up

align="center" | 2020

| align="left" | Peru Para Badminton International

| align="left" | {{flagicon|IND}} Pramod Bhagat

| align="left" | 18–21, 21–15, 14–21

| style="text-align:left; background:white" | {{silver2}} Runner-up

align="center" | 2021

| align="left" | Dubai Para Badminton International

| align="left" | {{flagicon|IND}} Pramod Bhagat

| align="left" | 17–21, 18–21

| style="text-align:left; background:white" | {{silver2}} Runner-up

Men's doubles

class="sortable wikitable" style="font-size: 90%;"

! Year

! Tournament

! Partner

! Opponent

! Score

! Result

align="center" | 2018

| align="left" | Dubai Para Badminton International

| align="left" | {{flagicon|INA}} Fredy Setiawan

| align="left" | {{flagicon|INA}} Ukun Rukaendi
{{Flagicon|INA}} Hary Susanto

| align="left" | 17–21, 15–21

| style="text-align:left; background:white" | {{silver2}} Runner-up

align="center" | 2019

| align="left" | Turkish Para Badminton International

| align="left" | {{flagicon|IND}} Tarun Dhillon

| align="left" | {{flagicon|INA}} Dwiyoko
{{Flagicon|INA}} Fredy Setiawan

| align="left" | 14–21, 15–21

| style="text-align:left; background:white" | {{silver2}} Runner-up

align="center" | 2019

| align="left" | Irish Para Badminton International

| align="left" | {{flagicon|IND}} Tarun Dhillon

| align="left" | {{flagicon|IND}} Pramod Bhagat
{{Flagicon|IND}} Manoj Sarkar

| align="left" | 21–13, 18–21, 21–23

| style="text-align:left; background:white" | {{silver2}} Runner-up

align="center" | 2021

| align="left" | Dubai Para Badminton International

| align="left" | {{flagicon|IND}} Sukant Kadam

| align="left" | {{flagicon|IND}} Pramod Bhagat
{{Flagicon|IND}} Manoj Sarkar

| align="left" | 18–21, 16–21

| style="text-align:left; background:white" | {{silver2}} Runner-up

References

{{Reflist}}

{{Noteslist}}

External links

  • {{BWFB|P70490}}
  • {{BWFP|7E08A24F-5024-4D26-9BBF-FB48E9DA890C|player=3519929}}
  • [https://www.paralympic.org/en/paris-2024-paralympics/athlete/kumar-nitesh_2499521 Kumar Nitesh] at the Paris 2024 Summer Paralympics ([https://olympics.com/en/paris-2024-paralympics/athlete/kumar-nitesh_2499521 alternate link], [https://paris2024.rtve.es/es/paris-2024-paralimpicos/atleta/kumar-nitesh_2499521 alternate link 2])

{{Paralympic medalists for India|state=collapsed}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kumar, Nitesh}}

Category:1994 births

Category:Living people

Category:IIT Mandi

Category:Indian male badminton players

Category:21st-century Indian sportsmen

Category:Indian male para-badminton players

Category:Paralympic badminton players for India

Category:Paralympic gold medalists for India

Category:Paralympic medalists in badminton

Category:Badminton players at the 2024 Summer Paralympics

Category:Medalists at the 2024 Summer Paralympics

Category:Asian Para Games medalists in badminton

Category:Asian Para Games gold medalists for India

Category:Asian Para Games silver medalists for India

Category:Asian Para Games bronze medalists for India

Category:Medalists at the 2018 Asian Para Games

Category:Medalists at the 2022 Asian Para Games

Category:Recipients of the Arjuna Award