Tejaswini Bai Biography: Early Life, Domestic Career, Achievements, Social Media and More
Tejaswini Bai V is one of India’s finest athletes in the sport of kabaddi. She was born on October 24, 1985. This accomplished player comes from Bangalore, Karnataka. She studied B.Com at the university level. Today, she works as a railway officer. But her real fame comes from her remarkable work in kabaddi.
Early Life and Introduction to the Sport
Tejaswini Bai began playing as a child in school. Her father, Late B. Venkat Rao, was a strong supporter of her sports dreams. Her mother, T.R. Vijay Bai, played an equally important role in pushing her forward. In 2004, Tejaswini Bai was appointed to South Western Railway under the sports quota. This job helped her balance both professional work and athletic training.
Her Playing Career
Tejaswini Bai had a very long and successful playing career. She started her national career in 2003. At the 51st Senior National Championship in Mumbai, she won a bronze medal. This was just the beginning of her journey. From 2004 onwards, she became a key player for her country.
International Success as an Athlete
Tejaswini Bai played for India in many international events. She played in the 1st Asian Championship held in Hyderabad in 2005. Here, she helped her country win gold. In 2007, at the 2nd Asian Championship in Tehran, Iran, she led her team to gold as captain.
Tejaswini Bai played in the 3rd Asian Championship at Madurai in 2008. Her country won gold again, and she served as the team captain. In 2010, she played in the 16th Asian Games in Guangzhou, China. She led her team to the gold medal. The same year, she played in the 11th South Asian Games held in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Her team won gold, with Tejaswini Bai as captain.
In 2013, she played in the 4th Indoor Asian Games in Incheon, Korea. Her country won the gold medal. She was the captain during this victory. In 2014, at the 17th Asian Games also in Incheon, Korea, she led her nation to gold again. In 2016, at the South Asian Games in Guwahati, her country won gold. Throughout these victories, she served as captain.
National Championships Record
Her record in national championships is very strong. She competed in many Senior National Championships from 2004 to 2017. She won numerous gold medals as a player in the 52nd, 53rd, 54th, 55th, 56th, 57th, 59th, 60th, 61st, 62nd, 63rd, and 64th Senior National Championships.
She was the captain of her team in many of these championships. Her leadership helped Indian Railways team win many gold medals during these events. In 2017, at the 65th Senior National Championship, she won a silver medal.
Federation Cup Victories
She also competed in Federation Cup events. These tournaments bring together the best teams from across the country. She won gold medals in the 25th, 26th, 27th, and 28th Federation Cup tournaments. She was also the captain in the 28th Federation Cup held in 2007 in Dadar, Mumbai.
In the 32nd National Games held in 2002, she won a bronze medal. She competed for Karnataka state in this event.
Awards and Honors
Tejaswini Bai received many major awards for her contributions. In 2006, she received the Karnataka State Ekalavya Award. This honor recognizes top sports athletes in the state. In 2011, she won the Arjuna Award. This is one of India’s highest sports honors. The same year, she also received the Rajyotsava Award.
In 2014, she was awarded the Kempegowda Award from Bangalore. This honor is given to people who bring distinction to the city.
| Category | Event Name | Location | Year | Achievement/Medal |
| Awards & Honours | Arjuna Award | India | 2011 | Awarded |
| Awards & Honours | Karnataka State Ekalavya Award | Karnataka | 2006 | Awarded |
| Awards & Honours | Rajyotsava Award | India | 2011 | Awarded |
| Awards & Honours | Kempegowda Award | Bangalore | 2014 | Awarded |
| International – Player | 16th Asian Games | Guangzhou, China | 2010 | Gold Medal (Captain) |
| International – Player | 17th Asian Games | Incheon, Korea | 2014 | Gold Medal (Captain) |
| International – Player | 1st Asian Championship | Hyderabad, India | 2005 | Gold Medal |
| International – Player | 2nd Asian Championship | Tehran, Iran | 2007 | Gold Medal (Captain) |
| International – Player | 3rd Asian Championship | Madurai, India | 2008 | Gold Medal (Captain) |
| International – Player | 11th SAF Games | Dhaka, Bangladesh | 2010 | Gold Medal (Captain) |
| International – Player | 4th Indoor Asian Games | Incheon, Korea | 2013 | Gold Medal (Captain) |
| International – Player | 14th SAF Games | Guwahati, India | 2016 | Gold Medal (Captain) |
| National Championship | 51st Senior National Championship | Dadar, Maharashtra | 2003 | Bronze Medal |
| National Championship | 52nd Senior National Championship | Kurukshetra, Haryana | 2004 | Gold Medal |
| National Championship | 53rd Senior National Championship | Uppal, Andhra Pradesh | 2005 | Gold Medal |
| National Championship | 54th Senior National Championship | Chittoor, Andhra Pradesh | 2006 | Gold Medal |
| National Championship | 55th Senior National Championship | Amravathi, Maharashtra | 2007 | Gold Medal (Captain) |
| National Championship | 56th Senior National Championship | Karnail Singh Stadium, Delhi | 2008 | Gold Medal (Captain) |
| National Championship | 57th Senior National Championship | Dombivali, Maharashtra | 2010 | Gold Medal (Captain) |
| National Championship | 59th Senior National Championship | Dadar, Maharashtra | 2012 | Gold Medal (Captain) |
| National Championship | 60th Senior National Championship | Mandya, Karnataka | 2013 | Gold Medal (Captain) |
| National Championship | 61st Senior National Championship | Patna, Bihar | 2014 | Gold Medal (Captain) |
| National Championship | 62nd Senior National Championship | Tirucengode, Tamil Nadu | 2015 | Gold Medal (Captain) |
| National Championship | 63rd Senior National Championship | Bangalore, Karnataka | 2015 | Gold Medal (Captain) |
| National Championship | 64th Senior National Championship | Patna, Bihar | 2016 | Gold Medal (Captain) |
| National Championship | 65th Senior National Championship | Hyderabad, Telangana | 2017 | Silver Medal (Captain) |
| Federation Cup | 23rd Federation Cup | Amravathi, Maharashtra | 2003 | Silver Medal |
| Federation Cup | 25th Federation Cup | Tiruppur, Tamil Nadu | 2005 | Gold Medal |
| Federation Cup | 26th Federation Cup | Basavanapura, Karnataka | 2005 | Gold Medal |
| Federation Cup | 27th Federation Cup | Basavanapura, Karnataka | 2006 | Gold Medal |
| Federation Cup | 28th Federation Cup | Dadar, Maharashtra | 2007 | Gold Medal (Captain) |
| National Games | 32nd National Games | Uppal, Andhra Pradesh | 2002 | Bronze Medal |
| Coaching | 19th Asian Games | Hangzhou, China | 2022 | Chief Coach – Gold Medal |
| Coaching | 6th Senior Asian Kabaddi Championship | Tehran, Iran | 2025 | Chief Coach – Gold Medal |
| Coaching | Chief Coach – Indian Women Team | India | 2022 | Current Position |
Transition to Coaching
After many years as an active player, she moved into coaching. She became a coach of the women’s national team. Her first major role as a coach was at the 18th Asian Games. Here, she helped the national team prepare.
In 2022, she became the chief coach of the women’s national team. The team played in the 19th Asian Games held in Hangzhou, China. Under her coaching, the nation won the gold medal. This represented a major success for her coaching career.
In 2025, she coached the women’s national team at the 6th Senior Asian Kabaddi Championship held in Tehran, Iran. The national team won gold again. This demonstrated the skill and knowledge she brings as a coach.
Today, she serves as the chief coach of the women’s national team. She is also preparing the team for the upcoming World Cup. She was appointed to the Selection Committee for the women’s team. Additionally, she is part of the Talent Identification Development Committee under Khelo India. This committee identifies young sports talent across the nation.
Professional and Personal Life
She has worked as a chief clerk with South Western Railway. She has been an important member of this railway office. She also serves as the chief coach of the Indian Railway women’s team.
Tejaswini Bai lives in Bangalore, Karnataka. She resides at Chandra Layout in the Nagarbhavi area. She comes from a sports-oriented family. Her sister also played the sport at high levels. Her sister competed in many national events. Both sisters worked for Indian Railways and played at high levels.
Social Media
Tejaswini Bai has a minimal social media presence. She has a Facebook page under the name “Arjuna Awardee & Former Indian women’s Kabaddi Team Captain Tejaswini Bai,” and an Instagram account (@tejaswini_bai) that shows limited activity with approximately 115 followers.
However, specific details about the exact number of followers on each platform and the exact types of posts she regularly shares are not clearly documented in public sources. The Instagram account appears to have very few posts publicly available.
Legacy and Impact
Her journey shows the power of dedication and hard work in sports. She started as a young athlete and became a national team captain. Then, she moved into coaching and brought honor to her country. She has competed and coached at the highest level of international competitions.
She is a role model for many young athletes. She shows that women can reach the top in sports. Her work in coaching helps develop the next generation of athletes. Her accomplishments make her one of the most important figures in the history of the sport.
She continues to work hard for her country’s athletic programs. As a coach, she trains young athletes to reach their potential. She helps prepare her nation for international competitions. Her role in sports will be remembered for many years. She is not just a player or coach. Rather, she is a builder of her nation’s athletic legacy.
