Anuj Gawade: Early Life, Domestic Career, PKL Achievements, Social Media and More

Anuj Gawade is a young and promising kabaddi defender who represents Tamil Thalaivas in the Pro Kabaddi League. Born on 13th June 2005, this 20-year-old left cover defender has already made his mark in professional kabaddi despite his young age. Anuj Gawade is known for his achievements at the national level, including bronze medals at the Khelo India Youth Games and participation in multiple Junior National Championships. His journey from national-level tournaments to the Pro Kabaddi League shows his dedication and talent in the sport.

Category	Details
Full Name	Anuj Kaluram Gawade
Date of Birth	13th June, 2005
Age	20 years (as of 2025)
Position	Defender (Left Cover)
Jersey Number	11
PKL Debut	Season 11 (Tamil Thalaivas)
Major Achievement	Khelo India Youth Games Bronze Medalist

Early Life & Family

Anuj Kaluram Gawade was born on 13th June 2005, making him one of the younger players in the Pro Kabaddi League. At just 20 years old, Anuj has already achieved significant success in kabaddi at various national levels. His zodiac sign is Gemini, and he celebrates his birthday every year on June 13th.

While specific details about his family background are limited in available sources, Anuj’s journey in kabaddi started from a young age. His participation in national school games and youth championships shows that he received support for his sporting career from an early stage. The young defender’s achievements at such a young age suggest that he comes from a background that values sports and education.

Domestic Career

Anuj Gawade has had an impressive domestic kabaddi career before joining the Pro Kabaddi League. His domestic achievements include multiple prestigious tournaments and championships that helped him build his reputation as a reliable defender.

National School Games: Anuj Gawade participated in the National School Games twice, showing his consistency at the school level. These competitions are important stepping stones for young kabaddi players to showcase their talent.

Khelo India Youth Games: One of Anuj Gawade’s biggest achievements came at the Khelo India Youth Games, where he won bronze medals in both the 5th and 6th editions of the tournament. The Khelo India Youth Games are annual national level competitions held for under-17 and under-21 categories, and winning medals at this level is a significant achievement.

Junior National Championships: Anuj Gawade also participated in the 49th and 50th Junior National Kabaddi Championships, which are among the most competitive domestic kabaddi tournaments in India. These championships help identify the best young talent in the country.

PKL Journey

Anuj Gawade made his Pro Kabaddi League debut in Season 11 (2024) with Tamil Thalaivas. His entry into the PKL marked the beginning of his professional kabaddi career at the highest level in India.

PKL Statistics Table

Season	Year	Team	Matches	Points	Raid Points	Tackle Points
Season 11	2024	Tamil Thalaivas	13	14	0	14
Season 12	2025	Tamil Thalaivas	0	0	0	0
Overall	–	Tamil Thalaivas	13	14	0	14

During Season 11, Anuj played 13 matches for Tamil Thalaivas and earned 14 tackle points. As a specialist defender, all his points came from tackles, with a tackle strike rate of 35%. This shows his focus on defensive duties and his ability to contribute consistently to the team’s defensive structure.

His role as the left cover defender with jersey number 11 has made him an important part of Tamil Thalaivas’ defensive unit. The team management has shown faith in his abilities by retaining him for Season 12 as well.

Achievements

Anuj Gawade has achieved several notable milestones in his young kabaddi career:

Khelo India Youth Games Success: His most significant achievements are the bronze medals won at the 5th and 6th Khelo India Youth Games. These medals showcase his ability to perform at the national level and compete against the best young talent in the country.

National School Games Participation: Anuj participated in the National School Games twice, which helped him gain valuable experience competing at the national level during his school years.

Junior National Championships: His participation in both the 49th and 50th Junior National Kabaddi Championships shows his consistent presence in top-level domestic competitions.

Pro Kabaddi League Debut: Making his PKL debut at the age of 19 in Season 11 is an achievement in itself, as it shows his rapid progress from youth competitions to professional kabaddi.

Team Retention: Being retained by Tamil Thalaivas for Season 12 after a decent performance in Season 11 shows the team’s confidence in his potential.

Social Media and More

Anuj Gawade maintains an active presence on social media, particularly Instagram, where he can be found with the handle @anuj_gawade_7. His Instagram profile describes him as a “Professional kabaddi player” and mentions his key achievements including his National School Games participation, Khelo India Youth Games bronze medals, and his involvement in the Junior National Championships.

On his social media, Anuj often shares updates about his kabaddi career, training sessions, and team activities with Tamil Thalaivas. His bio mentions “PKL-11/12 @tamilthalaivas” showing his pride in representing the franchise in both seasons.

Conclusion

Anuj Kaluram Gawade represents the new generation of kabaddi players who are making their mark in the Pro Kabaddi League at a young age. At just 20 years old, he has already achieved bronze medals at the Khelo India Youth Games and established himself as a reliable defender for Tamil Thalaivas. His journey from national school games to the PKL shows his steady progress and dedication to the sport.

With his young age and proven track record at various national competitions, Anuj Gawade has the potential to become a key player for Tamil Thalaivas in the coming seasons. His achievements in youth competitions and his successful transition to professional kabaddi make him a player to watch in the future seasons of the Pro Kabaddi League.