Nitesh Kumar
{{Short description|Indian kabaddi player}}
{{Multiple issues|
{{BLP sources|date=March 2023}}
{{BLP primary sources|date=March 2023}}
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{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2019}}
{{Use Indian English|date=September 2019}}
{{Infobox sportsperson
| name = Nitesh Kumar
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| nationality = Indian
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| occupation = Kabaddi player
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| sport = Kabaddi
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| league = VIVO Pro Kabaddi League
| team = UP Yoddhas(2017-2023)
Bengal Warriors(2024-Present)
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| medaltemplates = {{MedalSport|Men's Kabaddi}}
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{{MedalCompetition|Asian Games}}
{{MedalGold|2022 Hangzhou|Team}}
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Nitesh Kumar (born 12 August 1997) is an Indian kabaddi player who currently plays for Tamil Thailavas in Pro Kabaddi League. Kumar was picked up by Yoddha in the season 5 auction. In season 6, he became the first player in the league history to score 100 tackle points in a single campaign.{{cite web |title=FKH Stars: Nitesh Kumar - The first defender to score a hundred tackle points in a single season!|url=https://www.prokabaddi.com/features/fkh-stars-nitesh-kumar-the-first-defender-to-score-a-hundred-tackle-points-in-a-single-season|publisher=Pro Kabaddi|access-date=26 June 2019 |ref=2}} He is part of the Indian team that won gold medal at the 2022 Asian Games.{{Cite web |title=Asian Games 2023, Day 14 Live Updates: India win men's kabaddi Gold after controversial finish |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/sports/asian-games-2023/story/day-14-live-updates-medals-archery-india-vs-afghanistan-cricket-kabaddi-satwik-chirag-finals-2445671-2023-10-07 |access-date=2023-10-07 |website=India Today |language=en}} India beat Iran 33-29 in a controversial final.{{Cite web |title=Asian Games 2023, Day 14 Live Updates: India win men's kabaddi Gold after controversial finish |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/sports/asian-games-2023/story/day-14-live-updates-medals-archery-india-vs-afghanistan-cricket-kabaddi-satwik-chirag-finals-2445671-2023-10-07 |access-date=2023-10-07 |website=India Today |language=en}}
Early life
Career
=Pro-Kabaddi league=
;Season 5
Nitesh made his debut for UP Yoddha’s against the Telugu Titans in Hyderabad in season 5 and scored five tackle points in his team’s 31-18 victory.{{cite web |title=Scorecard, Yoddha vs Titans|url=https://www.prokabaddi.com/matchcentre/293-scorecard|publisher=Pro Kabaddi|access-date=26 June 2019 |ref=3}} He played 19 games in the season and scored 47 tackle points with four High 5s.
;Season 6
Nitish scored 20 tackle points in Yoddha’s first seven matches with the team managing three wins through that spell.{{cite web |title=schedule-fixtures-results |url=https://www.prokabaddi.com/schedule-fixtures-results|publisher=Pro Kabaddi |access-date=26 June 2019|ref=4}} The next nine games yielded no wins for the Yoddha, but Nitesh scored 40 tackle points over that period. In the final six games of the campaign, Yoddha won five and tied one and Nitesh scored 25 tackle points as Yoddha qualified for the playoffs. In the first eliminator against U Mumba, Nitesh scored eight tackle points as the Yoddha beat U Mumba 34-29.{{cite web|title=Scorecard, Yoddha vs U Mumba|url=https://www.prokabaddi.com/matchcentre/757-scorecard|publisher=Pro Kabaddi|access-date=26 June 2019|ref=5}} He scored three more tackle points in his team’s 45-33 victory over Dabang Delhi in the next eliminator match.{{cite web |title=Scorecard, Yoddha vs Delhi|url=https://www.prokabaddi.com/matchcentre/760-scorecard|publisher=Pro Kabaddi|access-date=26 June 2019|ref=6}} In the second qualifier against the Gujarat Giants, Nitesh scored six tackle points to reach 100 tackle points for the season.{{cite web |title=Scorecard, Giants vs Yoddha|url=https://www.prokabaddi.com/matchcentre/761-scorecard|publisher=Pro Kabaddi |access-date=26 June 2019 |ref=7}}
Records and achievements
- Best Defender, 2018 Pro Kabaddi League
References
{{Reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kumar, Nitesh}}
Category:Indian male kabaddi players
Category:Pro Kabaddi League players
Category:Kabaddi players at the 2022 Asian Games
Category:Asian Games gold medalists for India
Category:Asian Games kabaddi players for India