Shialesh Kumar (born 8 August 2000) is a para jumper from Bihar. He represented India in the men's high jump at the 2022 Asian Para Games at Hangzhou, China. He won a gold medal in the men's T63 high jump event clearing 1.82 meters on 23 October 2023.[1][2][3][4] He qualified to represent India at the 2024 Summer Paralympics at Paris.[5]
Early life and background
editKumar hails from Islamnagar in Aliganj block, Jamui district, Bihar.[6] In T63 classification, athletes with a single leg above the knee amputation compete with a prosthesis. He was born to Pratima Devi and Shivnandan Yadav and has two brothers. He did his graduation in Mathematics. He is currently being supported by Olympic Gold Quest, a sports NGO.
Career
editHe also represented India at the World Para Athletics Championships at Paris in July 2023 and won a silver medal.[7] He qualified for the 2024 Summer Olympics. He won the National Championship at Bhubaneswar in March 2022.[8]
He also broke the nine-year-old Asian Para Games record of 1.80m set by Paralympics medalist Sharad Kumar in 2014.[9] Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Kumar for winning the gold medal.[1][10]
References
edit- ^ PTI. "Indians win four gold to begin Para Asian Games campaign in style". Deccan Herald. Retrieved 2024-01-15.
- ^ "Asian Para Games 2023: Pranav Soorma, Shailesh Kumar clinch gold". The Times of India. 2023-10-23. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 2024-01-15.
- ^ "Know Your Athlete: Shailesh Kumar, High Jumper". Paralympic Committee of India. 2023-10-19. Retrieved 2024-01-15.
- ^ PTI (2023-12-11). "High jumpers Varun Bhati and Nishad Kumar shine in Khelo India Para Games athletics competition". Sportstar. Retrieved 2024-01-15.
- ^ Sportstar, Team (2024-08-14). "India at Paris Paralympics 2024: Complete list of 84 athletes at Paralympic Games". Sportstar. Retrieved 2024-08-27.
- ^ the Tribune, News (2023-10-29). "Champions: Indian para athletes register a record medal haul of 111 at Hangzhou in China". www.thetribune.com. Retrieved 2024-01-15.
{{cite web}}:|first=has generic name (help) - ^ News, ANI (2023-10-23). "Asian Para Games: Shailesh Kumar wins gold, Mariyappan Thangavelu secures silver in High Jump-T63 event". www.aninews.in. Retrieved 2024-01-15.
{{cite web}}:|last=has generic name (help) - ^ "Asian Para Games 2023: Shailesh Kumar clinches gold in men's T63 high jump". Khel Now. Retrieved 2024-01-15.
- ^ Desk, The Bridge (2023-10-23). "Asian Para Games: Shailesh Kumar wins high jump gold with Games record". thebridge.in. Retrieved 2024-01-15.
{{cite web}}:|last=has generic name (help) - ^ "Exceptional, monumental: PM Modi hails Indian athletes' performances at Asian Para Games". The Economic Times. 2023-10-23. ISSN 0013-0389. Retrieved 2024-01-15.