36‑year‑old Rakesh made his Asian Games debut as India's only basketball referee, sliding across the Aichi‑Nagoya courts and silencing the crowd with a crisp whistle.
A former FIBA official since 23, he’s spent over a decade in leagues from the Maldives to the Philippines, even touching the World Junior NBA Championships in 2018.
At the Asian Championships in China last year, he ran until the semifinals but missed the final because it was his maiden edition—an odd twist that left him hungry for more.
When pressed on the pay gap, Rakesh said, 'Without money, a referee can’t keep the game alive; that’s why cricket rules the field.' He’s been fighting the silence.
His debut could ignite a new wave of Indian officials, giving the sport a chance to shine beyond the sidelines and into the spotlight of international courts.
Next up, Rakesh will face the final showdown of the Asian Games basketball tournament, a test that could cement his place among the continent’s elite.