Rakesh Kumar (kabaddi)

Indian kabaddi player

Rakesh Kumar

Personal information

Nickname(s)| "KING OF KABADDI" Legend in Kabaddi
Nationality| Indian
Born|  (1983-04-15) 15 April 1983 (age 40)[1]
Nizampur, Delhi, India
Height| 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Weight| 78 kg (172 lb)
Sport
Country| India
Sport| Kabaddi
Position| All Rounder
League| Pro Kabaddi League
Club|

* Indian Railways
* Northern Railways
* 2017 - Telugu Titans
* 2016-2017 - U Mumba
* 2014-2016 - Patna Pirates

Team| India

Medal record

Representing  India
World Cup
| 2004 Mumbai | India
| 2007 Panvel | India
Asian Games
| 2006 Doha | India
| 2010 Guangzhou | India
| 2014 Incheon | India

Updated on 22 May 2014.

Rakesh Kumar (born 15 April 1983) is a former Indian professional Kabaddi player and Coach of Haryana Steelers. He was the vice-captain of the Indian team that won the gold medal at the 2007 World Cup at Panvel, India. In 2011, in recognition of his achievements in the sport, he was awarded the Arjuna Award by the Government of India.[2]

## Early life[edit]

Rakesh Kumar was born on 15 April 1983, in the Nizampur village of North West Delhi.[3][4] He took up Kabaddi in 1997 during his school days. After having played for his school team, he represented Delhi at the national level, before making it to the senior national team in 2003.[5]

## Career[edit]

Rakesh Kumar made his debut for the national team in 2003. In addition to winning medals at the national level, he was a part of the national team that won gold medals at the World Cups in 2004, 2007. With the team, he also won gold medals at the Asian Games in 2006, 2010 and 2014, South Asian Games in 2006 and 2010, and the Asian Indoor Games in 2007, 2009 and 2013.

### Pro Kabaddi League[edit]

At the auction of the inaugural season of the Pro Kabaddi League, Kumar was the recipient of the highest bid, having been bought for ₹12.8 lakh (US$16,000) by the Patna franchise, the team later named Patna Pirates.[6] He was made the captain of the team who led the team to a third-place finish in the 2014 season.[7] He was signed by U Mumba for the 2016 season. Then for the 2017 season, he was swapped to Telugu Titans.

Currently, he is the head coach of the Haryana Steelers.

## References[edit]

1. ^ "RAKESH KUMAR". Pro Kabaddi League. Retrieved 11 February 2016.
2. ^ "Arjuna and Dhyanchand Awardees - 2011 of Indian Railways Felicitated". Press Information Bureau, Govt. of India. 30 August 2011. Retrieved 22 May 2014.
3. ^ "Now, parents realise kabaddi can be taken up as career option: Rakesh Kumar". Daily News and Analysis. 24 June 2015. Retrieved 11 February 2016.
4. ^ "Nizampur, India's kabaddi capital". Hindustan Times. 8 November 2014. Retrieved 11 February 2016.
5. ^ "At Rs 12.8 lakh, Munna is MVP at pro-kabaddi auction". The Indian Express. 21 May 2014. Retrieved 22 May 2014.
6. ^ "Rakesh Kumar gets the highest bid". The Hindu. 21 May 2014. Retrieved 22 May 2014.
7. ^ "Pink Panthers crowned champion". The Hindu. 2 September 2014. Retrieved 25 September 2014.

## External links[edit]

* Rakesh Kumar profile at ProKabaddi