Press "Enter" to skip to content

Congratulatory messages pour in as Jammu’s pride Paralympian Archer Rakesh Kumar receives Arjuna Award from the President

Lt. Governor Manoj Sinha and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah are among several others who have congratulated the Paralympian Archer and son of the soil Rakesh Kumar who today received the prestigious Arjuna Award from the President Mrs. Droupadi Murmu in a function at the Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi.

“I am very happy that my hard work of eight years has paid off. I am very proud”, said Rakesh Kumar after receiving the award.

Born in January 1985, a native of Katra, Rakesh Kumar has brought laurels for the country by winning medals in several international events. He is the highest-ranked compound archer in India with a world rankings of Number 1.

Congratulating him, LG Manoj Sinha wrote on X; “Congratulations to Rakesh Kumar on receiving prestigious Arjuna Award from Hon’ble President Smt. Droupadi Murmu Ji. Rakesh has brought immense pride to J&K and the nation, inspiring young sportspersons with his grit & determination. Wishing him continued success & greater glory”.

CM Omar Abdullah wrote; “Heartiest congratulations to Olympian Rakesh Kumar of Katra for being conferred the prestigious Arjuna Award for 2024 at the hands of the Hon’ble President Droupadi Murmu Sahiba. Rakesh has made a name for himself in the field of para-archery and serves as an inspiration for all of us in J&K. I wish him more success going ahead”.

Divisional Commissioner Jammu, Ramesh kumar  extended his heartiest congratulations to para Archer Rakesh Kumar for receiving the prestigious Arjuna Award 2024 from Hon’ble President Smt. Droupadi Murmu ji. He wrote “He is an inspiration to countless athletes”.

Rakesh Kumar qualified to represent India at the 2024 Summer Paralympics at Paris, his second Olympics. He also won the bronze medal in the 2024 Summer Paralympics.

He represented India at the 2020 Summer Paralympics, held in Tokyo, Japan.

He won a gold medal in the men’s compound open section of the 7th Fazza Para Archery World Ranking Tournament, which was held in Dubai in February 2021.

Rakesh was part of the team that won a gold medal in the team competition at the European Circuit 2nd leg in the year 2018 and won a bronze medal in the mixed team event at the 5th Fazza Para Archery World Ranking Tournament in the year 2019.

He was trained at the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board’s Sports Complex at Katra and he is native of Katra, Jammu.

In September 2021, the Lieutenant Governor of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, Manoj Sinha felicitated Rakesh Kumar for his performance in the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics.

He also represented India in the 2024 Summer Paralympics, in which he won the bronze medal in the mixed team compound open with Sheetal Devi.