Ram Kumar (basketball)
Encyclopedia
Ram Kumar is a former India
n basketball
player and current coach of the junior Indian team. He played for India during 1985 to 1996 and represented the Indian national basketball team
at several international championships. He also served as the captain of Indian national basketball team from 1991 to 1995. He played the position of shooting guard
. In the National Championships, Ram Kumar represented Indian Railways
and during his playing days, Indian Railways
won eight Gold, three Silver, and three Bronze medals. Ram Kumar is the son of former basketball player Khushi Ram
, an Arjuna awardee
. He is a recipient of Dhyan Chand Award
in 2003 for the lifetime achievement in Indian basketball.
. Ram Kumar first joined income tax department
in Jaipur
and later moved to Western Railway in the year 1987. Also known as old war horse of railway, he followed his father Khushi Ram
's footsteps and became a basketball player. He was honoured by prestigious Dhyan Chand Award
in the year 2003 and also Maharana Pratap Award in the year 1989 for being the best sportsman of Rajasthan
. Former olympian Ajmer Singh
is a contemporary of Ram Kumar and they made good combination on the court. Kumar was top scorer at many National and International Championships for India. His younger brother Ashok Kumar was also former international basketball player and former India captain. Ram Kumar is one of the finest shooters India has ever produced . He got offer to play professionally in Romania and Iran but turned down the offer
Kumar after his retirement in 2003 is serving as the coach of "Indian Railways
Basketball Team" and has also coached India Junior Basketball Team in year 2003 and 2004 that played at Kuwait
and Bangladesh
where the Indian team won silver medal. He is currently working as a Sports Officer at Rail Coach Factory at Kapurthala
. In 2010, he has been the coach of Indian team that won the Asia zone qualifying round for the 21st "FIBA Asia Cup Basketball Championship
" to be held at Yemen
.
Achievements in international fields
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
player and current coach of the junior Indian team. He played for India during 1985 to 1996 and represented the Indian national basketball team
India national basketball team
The India men's national basketball team represents India in international men's basketball. It is controlled by Basketball Federation of India....
at several international championships. He also served as the captain of Indian national basketball team from 1991 to 1995. He played the position of shooting guard
Shooting guard
The shooting guard , also known as the two or off guard, is one of five traditional positions on a basketball team. Players of the position are often shorter, leaner, and quicker than forwards. A shooting guard's main objective is to score points for his team...
. In the National Championships, Ram Kumar represented Indian Railways
Indian Railways
Indian Railways , abbreviated as IR , is a departmental undertaking of Government of India, which owns and operates most of India's rail transport. It is overseen by the Ministry of Railways of the Government of India....
and during his playing days, Indian Railways
Indian Railways
Indian Railways , abbreviated as IR , is a departmental undertaking of Government of India, which owns and operates most of India's rail transport. It is overseen by the Ministry of Railways of the Government of India....
won eight Gold, three Silver, and three Bronze medals. Ram Kumar is the son of former basketball player Khushi Ram
Khushi Ram
Khushi Ram is a former basketball player from India who represented India at many international competitions. He was awarded Arjuna award in 1967. He was born in Rajasthan state in 1936.Khushi ram has a reputation of being amongst the best players of Asia .He was the first captain of Indian...
, an Arjuna awardee
Arjuna award
The Arjuna Awards were instituted in 1961 by the government of India to recognize outstanding achievement in National sports. The award carries a cash prize of 500,000, a bronze statuette of Arjuna and a scroll....
. He is a recipient of Dhyan Chand Award
Dhyan Chand Award
Dhyan Chand Award is India's highest award for lifetime achievement in sports and games. The award is named after the legendary Indian hockey player Dhyan Chand. The award was initiated in 2002...
in 2003 for the lifetime achievement in Indian basketball.
Career
He started his career in the year 1983, when he played his first National Championship at CalicutKozhikode
Kozhikode During Classical antiquity and the Middle Ages, Kozhikkode was dubbed the "City of Spices" for its role as the major trading point of eastern spices. Kozhikode was once the capital of an independent kingdom of the same name and later of the erstwhile Malabar District...
. Ram Kumar first joined income tax department
Income tax in India
The government of India imposes an income tax on taxable income of individuals, Hindu Undivided Families , companies, firms, co-operative societies and trusts and any other artificial person. Levy of tax is separate on each of the persons. The levy is governed by the Indian Income Tax Act, 1961...
in Jaipur
Jaipur
Jaipur , also popularly known as the Pink City, is the capital and largest city of the Indian state of Rajasthan. Founded on 18 November 1727 by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II, the ruler of Amber, the city today has a population of more than 3.1 million....
and later moved to Western Railway in the year 1987. Also known as old war horse of railway, he followed his father Khushi Ram
Khushi Ram
Khushi Ram is a former basketball player from India who represented India at many international competitions. He was awarded Arjuna award in 1967. He was born in Rajasthan state in 1936.Khushi ram has a reputation of being amongst the best players of Asia .He was the first captain of Indian...
's footsteps and became a basketball player. He was honoured by prestigious Dhyan Chand Award
Dhyan Chand Award
Dhyan Chand Award is India's highest award for lifetime achievement in sports and games. The award is named after the legendary Indian hockey player Dhyan Chand. The award was initiated in 2002...
in the year 2003 and also Maharana Pratap Award in the year 1989 for being the best sportsman of Rajasthan
Rajasthan
Rājasthān the land of Rajasthanis, , is the largest state of the Republic of India by area. It is located in the northwest of India. It encompasses most of the area of the large, inhospitable Great Indian Desert , which has an edge paralleling the Sutlej-Indus river valley along its border with...
. Former olympian Ajmer Singh
Ajmer Singh
Ajmer Singh is an Indian basketball player who was awarded the country's highest sporting honor, the Arjuna Award, in 1982. He represented the country in the Asian Basketball Championships and in the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow....
is a contemporary of Ram Kumar and they made good combination on the court. Kumar was top scorer at many National and International Championships for India. His younger brother Ashok Kumar was also former international basketball player and former India captain. Ram Kumar is one of the finest shooters India has ever produced . He got offer to play professionally in Romania and Iran but turned down the offer
Kumar after his retirement in 2003 is serving as the coach of "Indian Railways
Indian Railways
Indian Railways , abbreviated as IR , is a departmental undertaking of Government of India, which owns and operates most of India's rail transport. It is overseen by the Ministry of Railways of the Government of India....
Basketball Team" and has also coached India Junior Basketball Team in year 2003 and 2004 that played at Kuwait
Kuwait
The State of Kuwait is a sovereign Arab state situated in the north-east of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the south at Khafji, and Iraq to the north at Basra. It lies on the north-western shore of the Persian Gulf. The name Kuwait is derived from the...
and Bangladesh
Bangladesh
Bangladesh , officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh is a sovereign state located in South Asia. It is bordered by India on all sides except for a small border with Burma to the far southeast and by the Bay of Bengal to the south...
where the Indian team won silver medal. He is currently working as a Sports Officer at Rail Coach Factory at Kapurthala
Kapurthala
Kapurthala is a city in Punjab state of India. It is the administrative headquarters of Kapurthala District. It was the capital of the Kapurthala State, a princely state in British India. The secular and aesthetic mix of the city with its prominent buildings based on French and Indo-Saracenic...
. In 2010, he has been the coach of Indian team that won the Asia zone qualifying round for the 21st "FIBA Asia Cup Basketball Championship
FIBA Asia Champions Cup
The FIBA Asia Champions Cup is the Asian club championship for basketball organized by FIBA Asia, and takes place every year.-Summary:- Titles by team :- Titles by country :-References:*...
" to be held at Yemen
Yemen
The Republic of Yemen , commonly known as Yemen , is a country located in the Middle East, occupying the southwestern to southern end of the Arabian Peninsula. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the north, the Red Sea to the west, and Oman to the east....
.
Achievements in international fields
- Top scorer of tournament at world railway games in New Delhi in 1987
- Best player in S.A.F Games in Colombo in 1991
- Best scorer from India at Asian basketball championship at Seoul in 1995
- Declared as 3rd sharpest shooter of Asia at Asian basketball championship at Bangkok in 1987
- Top scorer in world railway games at Romania in 1991
- Best shooter at test matches played against U.S.A at New York in 1992
Awards and honors
- Dhyan Chand AwardDhyan Chand AwardDhyan Chand Award is India's highest award for lifetime achievement in sports and games. The award is named after the legendary Indian hockey player Dhyan Chand. The award was initiated in 2002...
(2003) - Maharana Pratap Award (1989)
- Rail Minister Award (1994)