Nishad Kumar is an Indian athlete who competes in the High Jump T47 category. In 2021, at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics, he clinched the silver medal and made an Asian record of 2.06m high jump in the men’s high jump T47 category.
#Silver Medal for 🇮🇳#Athletics: Nishad Kumar wins silver medal with a best effort of 2.06m in Men's High Jump T47 event.#Tokyo2020 | #Paralympics | #Praise4Para pic.twitter.com/v5042FmCSX
— Doordarshan Sports (@ddsportschannel) August 29, 2021
Wiki/Biography
Nishad Kumar was born on Sunday, 3 October 1999 (age 22 years; as of 2021) in village Badaun, Amb, District Una, Himachal Pradesh, India. His zodiac sign is Libra. He went to Lovely Professional University, Punjab, India, to study Physical Education.
Physical Appearance
Height (approx.): 6’ 4″
Weight (approx.): 60 kg
Hair Colour: Black
Eye Colour: Black
Family
Parents & Siblings
His father’s name is Rashpal Singh, and he is a daily wage labourer. His mother’s name is Pushpa Kumari, and she is a homemaker. He has a sister named Rama Kumari.
Nishad Kumar with his parents and sister
Career
At the age of ten, Nishad Kumar chose to participate in sports and athletics. Initially, he started training at the Saraswati Vidya Mandir, Katohar Khurd, Himachal Pradesh under coach Ramesh. Apart from the high jump, he also participated in 200m and 400m races. In 2009, he began participating in Para athletics in the high jump category.
Nishad Kumar while performing a high jump
He clinched a silver medal in the sub-junior category at National School Games in Patiala in 2013. He again won a silver medal in 2017 in the 1.83m high jump at the National Para Athletics Championships. In November 2019, a bronze medal was claimed by Nishad Kumar in the men’s T47 category at the 2019 World Para Athletics Championships held in Dubai. Nishad clinched a gold medal in the T46 category at the 2021 World Para Athletics Grand Prix held in Dubai. On winning this championship, he got qualified for the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics and won a silver medal in the event.
Medals
- Paralympic Games
He won a silver medal in 2020 Tokyo in High Jump T47
- World Para Athletics Championships
He won a bronze medal in 2019 Dubai in High Jump T47
Facts/Trivia
- Nishad Kumar’s favourite food is Makki ki Roti and Saag.
- After winning a silver medal in the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics, Nishad Kumar in an interview with News9 Live narrated his happiness. He exclaimed,
It feels great. It feels wonderful. I feel very happy and proud to give my country a gift on National Sports Day. The feeling is unbelievable.”
- Nishad Kumar lost his right hand while helping his mother in cutting dry grass in the fodder cutting machine at the age of eight. His parents remembered that moment in a conversation with the Indian Express. The recalled,
As parents, whenever we remember the day when Nishad’s hand got into the fodder-cutting machine at our home, we cry. Today’s medal is the reward for his hard work. To see him hold the Indian flag and the silver medal at the Tokyo Paralympics has made us forget all the hardships.”
- Nalanda College of Himachal Pradesh Honoured Nishad Kumar for his extraordinary performance in the High Jump in 2019.
Nishad Kumar being honoured by the Nalanda college Himachal Pradesh
- Anurag Thakur, the minister of Sports and Youth Affairs in India, presented Nishad Kumar a token of honour for Nishad’s extraordinary performance in the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics in 2021.
Nishad Kumar being honoured by Anurag Thakur
- Nishad Kumar daily meditates to improve his concentration power while playing. In one of his social media accounts, he shared his picture while meditating.
Nishad Kumar’s Instagram post while meditating
- Nishad Kumar was trained by the coach Satyanarayana for the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics.
A selfie by Nishad Kumar with his coach
- As per Nishad Kumar’s coach, Nishad has the willpower to win many more medals in future despite his disability. In a conversation with the Indian Express in 2021, he said,
His biggest strength has been the ability to do what he visualises in training as well as in competitions. His speed before the jump was excellent and he did not look under pressure. To win a medal with a new Asian record jump speaks of his confidence. He is young and I am sure he can achieve more in the coming years.”
- Nishad Kumar follows a very strict fitness regime.
A screenshot from the video Instagrammed by Nishad Kumar while at the gym
- A congratulation note was written by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his Twitter handle after Nishad Kumar won the silver medal in the high jump. He tweeted,
More joyful news comes from Tokyo! Absolutely delighted that Nishad Kumar wins the Silver medal in Men’s High Jump T47. He is a remarkable athlete with outstanding skills and tenacity. Congratulations to him.”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Tweet for Nishad Kumar on his silver medal victory in 2020 Tokyo Paralympics
- Nishad Kumar often posts his pictures on his social media account while planting saplings.
Nishad Kumar while planting a sapling