Champa Thakur Biography: Early Life, Domestic Career, Achievements, Social Media and More
Champa Thakur was born on November 4, 2004, in Bagheigarh, Chamba, Himachal Pradesh. She is only 20 years old and is one of the youngest players in the Indian women’s kabaddi team. Her father, Sri Ramesh Kumar, is a wrestling coach, and her mother is a homemaker. She has a brother named Sumit Thakur, who is also an athlete and wrestler, showing that sports run in the family.
Early Kabaddi Career
Champa started playing kabaddi in 2015 when she was just around 11 years old. Initially, she juggled between wrestling and kabaddi, trying to find her calling in sports. However, inspired by her father’s support and her inherent fascination with the sport, she ultimately chose kabaddi and committed herself to it fully.
Playing Style and Specialty
Champa is a Left Corner Defender with exceptional blocking techniques. Her defensive skills and positioning have made her valuable to the team. She has been guided by a cadre of coaches including her father, Kuldeep Rajput, Thakur Das Verma, Vipin Rajput, Meher Singh Verma, and Ranjana. Currently, at SAI Dharamshala, she is being trained by coaches Pankaj Kumar and Satvir Kaur.
Rise in Kabaddi
At the SAI tournament, representing SAI, Champa exhibited her prowess with a memorable Hi-5 against Tamil Nadu, marking a significant milestone in her developing career. This performance caught the attention of national selectors and helped her secure a place in the Indian squad for the World Cup despite her young age.
Personal Life
Champa comes from a sports-oriented family from Churah in Chamba district of Himachal Pradesh. Both she and her brother Sumit have made their families and their father proud by excelling in their respective sports. Her family’s support has been instrumental in her success in kabaddi.
International Debut
Champa Thakur is making her World Cup debut as one of the youngest members of the Indian women’s kabaddi team. At just 20 years old, she is among the debutants in the squad for the 2nd Women’s Kabaddi World Cup 2025. This is a significant achievement for such a young player to get selected for a world tournament.
Current Status
Champa Thakur is part of the Indian women’s kabaddi team squad for the 2nd Women’s Kabaddi World Cup 2025, which will be held in Dhaka, Bangladesh, from November 17 to 24, 2025. The team is led by captain Ritu Negi with vice-captain Pushpa Rana. The team is being coached by Tejaswini Bai (Head Coach) and Kavita Selvaraj (Assistant Coach). As a debutant, Champa will bring youthful energy and fresh defensive skills to the Indian squad.
Social Media
Champa maintains an Instagram profile @champa_thakur03 where she shares updates about her kabaddi career journey and personal life.
