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 | 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}} {{Medal|Silver|2019 Basel|Men's doubles}} {{Medal|Silver|2022 Tokyo|Men's singles}} {{Medal|Bronze|2024 Pattaya|Men's singles}} {{Medal|Bronze | 2026 Manama | 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.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://bwfpara.tournamentsoftware.com/player-profile/7e08a24f-5024-4d26-9bbf-fb48e9da890c/biography |title=Player Profile}}</ref> He won a gold at the 2024 Paris Paralympics in the men's singles SL3 category.<ref>{{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/ |access-date=2 September 2024 |website=sportstar.thehindu.com |language=en}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{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}}</ref>

== 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.<ref name=":0">{{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}}</ref> He resides at Karnal, Haryana and is supported by sports NGO, Olympic Gold Quest.<ref name=":1">{{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}}</ref>

== 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.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" />

He became the world number 3 in the SL3 category on 14 June 2022.<ref>{{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}}</ref>

=== Coaching career === In 2019, he started working as Senior Badminton Coach at the Department of Sports and Youth Affairs, Haryana.<ref name="bridge">{{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}}</ref><ref name=":0" />

==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''' |- style="background:#F3E6D7" | align="center" | 2026 | align="left" | Isa Sports City, Manama, Bahrain | align="left" | {{flagicon|INA}} Muhammad Al Imran | align="left" | 21–12, 17–21, 11–21 | 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.<ref>{{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}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=BWF Para Tournamentsoftware |url=https://bwfpara.tournamentsoftware.com/ |website=Badminton World Federation |date=11 July 2022 |language=en}}</ref>

''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}}

== 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])

{{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 Category:Survivors of railway accidents or incidents Category:Badminton players at the 2022 Asian Para Games