Ajay Thakur Biography: Early and Family Life, Domestic Career, PKL Achievements, Social Media and More
There are only few players who are absolute Giants in the game but humble personality off the mat and the one who inspired future generation Kabaddi Player to pick up the sport and one name who will tick all these boxes would be “Ajay Thakur“.
Ajay Thakur played for India then went on to play Pro Kabaddi League and currently he is engaged as Coach in PKL where he would be guiding Puneri Paltans in PKL 12
Ajay Thakur is often referred as “Ice Man” due to cool and calm ability on the mat.
Here in this article we will each and every details about them let start with early information about him in Detail to be shared in tabular format:
🧾 Ajay Thakur – Personal & Professional Overview
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Ajay Thakur |
| Nickname | Ice Man |
| Height | 6 Feet 1 Inch |
| Weight | 76 Kg |
| Date of Birth | 1st May 1986 |
| Age | 39 years old |
| Birthplace | Nalagarh, Himachal Pradesh |
| School | Sant Isher Singh Public School, Mohali, Punjab |
| College | Government Post Graduate College, Nalagarh, HP |
| Married On | 10th April 2019 |
| Wife/Spouse | Sandeep Rana |
| Daughter | Anaya Thakur |
| Father’s Name | Chotu Ram |
| Mother’s Name | Rajinder Kaur |
| Brother | Amit Thakur |
| Sister | Disha Thakur |
| Car Collection | Mahindra Bolero |
🏆 Kabaddi Career Details
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Pro Kabaddi Debut | PKL Season 1 |
| Playing Position | Raider |
| Signature Move | Frog Jump |
| Coached By | Kasinath Bhaskaran, Balwan Singh |
Ajay Thakur Early Life, Family Life and Domestic Career :
Ajay Thakur is born on 1st May 1986 in Dabhota Village in Nalagarh Himachal Pradesh where he started playing Kabaddi during his school days and the reason why he developed inclination towards sport should be given to his Father who also played Kabaddi at the school level.
His uncle also served as Coach and his uncle Rakesh has also played for Indian National team .
He started playing Kabaddi in school level subsequently reaching at the levels of city then moving into state level.
At the age of 18 years old, he started some serious training under his uncle which paved the way for him, His breakthrough moment came as a player having successful trails in Sports Authority of India Bilaspur Center in the year 2004 within three years due to his consistent performances made his foray into Indian National team.
Doing well in Domestic Tournaments made his foray into Indian National team and PKL
Ajay Thakur PKL Achievements and Indian National Team:
Ajay Thakur is widely recognized as one of the most important raiders in Kabaddi, and he was member of Indian team who clinched gold medal in 2007 Asian Games later member of Indian team in 2013 Asian Games and Marital Art Games.
He gained widespread recognition, during 2014 Incheon games, where India secured Gold medal under his steward leadership.
His success is not only based on his steward leadership but it has got to do with his raw talent and Frog Jump where he literally tormented Opposition defence.
In the year 2014, he represented Air India team in distinct championships where he made the PKL debut in the same year for Bengaluru Bulls where he managed to score 122 raid points and 5 Tackle Points in 15 matches. He was ranked 4th in the list of all raiders taking part in that PKL edition.
In season 2, he again Played for Bengaluru Bulls and scored 79 raid points and 1 tackle point in 13 matches, during the same season he suffered Hamstring Injury.
In season 3, he played for Puneri Paltan where he successfully clinched 52 raid points which also include 4 tackle points in 14 matches.
For his brilliant performance against Iran in 20166, he scored 4 point raid which successfully led Indian team towards victory.
In 2016, Kabaddi World Cup won by India he scored 68 raid points which was the most point scored by any raider in the marquee event.
In Season 4, he played for Puneri Paltan where he scored 63 raid points and 1 tackle points in 14 matches .
In Season 5, 6 and 7 he represented Tamil Thalaivas where he played- 61 matches and scored 324 raid points and 2 tackle points respectively.
In 2020, He led Himachal Men’s team at the 67th Senior National Kabaddi Championship later on he served as Deputy Superintendent of Police in Himachal Pradesh.
He regularly goes to gym and share his photos from gym on his official social media account.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Recognition | Widely recognized as one of the most important raiders in Kabaddi |
| International Debut | Member of Indian team that won Gold at 2007 Asian Games |
| Further International Appearances | Represented India in 2013 Asian Games and Martial Art Games |
| Major Highlight – 2014 Incheon | Led India to Gold at 2014 Asian Games; gained recognition for leadership and Frog Jump skills |
| Unique Skill | Known for his signature “Frog Jump” that troubled opposition defenses |
| 2014 Domestic Performance | Represented Air India in championships; PKL debut with Bengaluru Bulls |
| PKL Season 1 (2014) | Bengaluru Bulls: 122 raid points, 5 tackle points in 15 matches (Ranked 4th among all raiders) |
| PKL Season 2 | Bengaluru Bulls: 79 raid points, 1 tackle point in 13 matches; suffered hamstring injury |
| PKL Season 3 | Puneri Paltan: 52 raid points, 4 tackle points in 14 matches |
| 2016 Kabaddi World Cup | Top raider: 68 raid points; scored crucial 4-point raid vs Iran in final |
| PKL Season 4 | Puneri Paltan: 63 raid points, 1 tackle point in 14 matches |
| PKL Seasons 5, 6, 7 | Tamil Thalaivas: 61 matches, 324 raid points, 2 tackle points |
| 2020 Senior Nationals | Captained Himachal Men’s team at 67th Senior National Kabaddi Championship |
| Post-Playing Role | Serves as Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) in Himachal Pradesh |
| Fitness & Social Media | Active gym-goer; frequently shares workout photos on social media |
His PKL Stats are shared below:
| Stat Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Total Seasons Played | Season 1 to Season 8 |
| Total Matches Played | 121 Matches |
| Total Raid Points Attempted | 1,758 Raids |
| Total Raid Points Scored | 736 Points |
| Total Tackle Points | 22 Points |
📊 Season-wise Breakdown
| Season | Matches Played | Raid Points Attempted | Raid Points Scored | Tackle Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season 1 | 16 | 228 | 122 | 5 |
| Season 2 | 13 | 190 | 79 | 1 |
| Season 3 | 14 | 148 | 52 | 4 |
| Season 4 | 16 | 155 | 63 | 1 |
| Season 5 | 22 | 407 | 213 | 9 |
| Season 6 | 22 | 388 | 203 | 1 |
| Season 7 | 13 | 171 | 4 | 0 |
| Season 8 | 5 | 58 | 0 | 1 |
He has been awarded with Padma Shri and Arjuna Award in 2019 for his exceptional contribution in Kabaddi also bestowed him with Parsuram award by Himachal Pradesh for his excellence.
He took retirement from International Kabaddi in the year 2024, bringing curtains down on his illustrious Kabaddi Chapter yet contribute strongly towards growth and development of sports in this region.
Ajay Thakur’s story is a perfect story of redemption if you are determined, confident you would go miles and he proved it right with his performance and tenacity on the mat.
Ajay Thakur also runs his own academy in Himachal Pradesh where he teaches several boys and girls about the nuances of sport.
Ajay Thakur Social Media:
He is quite active on social media where he keep sharing about his life also share photos related to his fitness drills to motivate and inspire other Kabaddi Players out there.
Ajay Thakur Instagram Profile Link:
Ajay Thakur have 416K followers on Instagram and 91K followers on his Youtube channel.
Sharing both links in the below format.
Ajay Thakur Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/ajaythakurkabaddi
Ajay Thakur Youtube Channel:https://youtube.com/Ajaythakurkabaddi
Ajay Thakur Kabaddi Academy runs in Himachal Pradesh and Una where he teaches the nuances of Kabaddi brilliantly to both boys and girls.
Important Questions(FAQ):
Q-1: What is Ajaty Thakur’s Nickname??
Answer: He is fondly called as Iceman or King of Kabaddi
Q-2: Which Position he currently holds in Himachal?
Answer: He holds DSP position in Himachal Pradesh Police.
Q-3: Does he owns Kabaddi Academy?
Answer: Ajay Thakur owns Kabaddi Academy in Himachal Pradesh and Una
Q-4: Who is Ajay Thakur’s best friend in Kabaddi?
Answer: His best friend is none other than Deepak Niwas Hooda.
Q-5: Ajay Thakur was initially was taught Kabaddi by his family member who are they? ‘
Answer: They were his father(National Level Kabaddi Player) and Uncle who taught him nuances of Kabaddi.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Major Awards | Padma Shri (2019), Arjuna Award (2019), Parshuram Award (by Himachal Govt) |
| Retirement | Retired from International Kabaddi in 2024 |
| Post-Retirement Role | Promoting sports development in Himachal Pradesh |
| Motivational Legacy | Symbol of redemption, confidence, and determination |
🏫 Academy & Coaching
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Academy Name | Ajay Thakur Kabaddi Academy |
| Academy Location | Himachal Pradesh & Una |
| Focus Area | Trains boys and girls in the nuances of Kabaddi |
📱 Social Media Presence
| Platform | Handle/Link | Followers |
|---|---|---|
| @ajaythakurkabaddi | 416K | |
| YouTube | Ajay Thakur YouTube Channel | 91K |
| Activity | Shares fitness drills, life updates, and motivational content |
❓ Important Questions (FAQ)
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Q1: What is Ajay Thakur’s nickname? | Iceman or King of Kabaddi |
| Q2: Which position does he currently hold in Himachal? | Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) in Himachal Pradesh Police |
| Q3: Does he own a Kabaddi academy? | Yes, in Himachal Pradesh and Una |
| Q4: Who is his best friend in Kabaddi? | Deepak Niwas Hooda |
| Q5: Who taught him Kabaddi initially? | His father (a national level Kabaddi player) and his uncle |
Final Perspective:
He certainly belongs to those group of Players who inspired next generation to play Kabaddi.
He would be guiding Puneri Paltans for PKL 12 it would be imperatively important to see how his team would fare in next year PKL under his brilliant coaching stewardship.
Puneri Paltan already have some of the star names and also they would be looking to bounce back after depleting last season where they were lanquishing at the bottom it would be interesting to watch them from close quarters on what they can do in the Coming season under Ajay Thakur’s steward guidance.
Get Ready to witness him in action for Paltans from 29th August 2025 where 12 best teams would compete against each other for the prestigious crown.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Legacy | Belongs to the group of players who inspired the next generation to play Kabaddi |
| Current Role | Head Coach of Puneri Paltan for PKL Season 12 |
| Coaching Strength | Known for brilliant tactical acumen and motivating leadership |
| Team Status (Previous Season) | Puneri Paltan struggled last season, finished near the bottom |
| Star Power | Paltan has strong individual names in the squad |
| Season Outlook | Team aiming for a strong comeback under Ajay Thakur’s guidance |
| Season Start Date | 29th August 2025 |
| Tournament Info | 12 best teams will compete for the prestigious PKL crown |
| Public Anticipation | High curiosity around Ajay Thakur’s impact on team performance |
Ajay Thakur was part of this Franchise in last season too where he served them as assistant coach so he understands the dressing room pretty well.
Also Aslam Inamdar is back in action after recovering from Injury unlike last season so he would be another important factor for the franchise.
The team looks quite balanced in offence and defence and tactically they have biggest Kabaddi tactician in the form of Ajay Thakur so he would hold key for them.
Pro Kabaddi League as entity has grown across leaps and bounds and deserve credit especially all the stakeholders who have work day and night out behind the scenes to make this entity extremely special.
