Indian professional kabaddi player Ajay Thakur has emerged as a prominent figure in the sport. He proudly captains the Indian National Kabaddi Team and contributes to their success. Notably, he played a key role in winning gold medals for India at the 2014 Asian Games and 2016 Kabaddi World Cup.
Wiki/Biography
Ajay Thakur, nicknamed Sonu, was born on Friday, May 1, 1987, in Nalaghar, Himachal Pradesh (age 36; as of 2023). His zodiac sign is Taurus. Ajay Thakur completed his schooling from Government High School, Dabota. He furthered his studies at the Government Post-Graduation College, Nalagarh, Himachal Pradesh. He is also a graduate of Himachal Pradesh Police Academy.
appearance
Height (approximately): 6’1″
Weight (approximately): 76kg
Hair Color: Black
Eye Color: Brown
Body measurements (approximately): Bust: 42 inches; Waist: 34 inches; Biceps: 15″
family
parents and siblings
Ajay’s father, Chottu Ram, is a former athlete who represented India.
Ajay Thakur’s father’s photo
His mother’s name is Rajinder Kaur.
Ajay Thakur’s mother
He has a younger brother named Abhinandan Chandel and a younger sister named Disha Thakur.
Ajay’s brother Abhinandan Chandel and his family
Ajay Thakur and his sister
wife and children
On Wednesday, April 10, 2019, he married Sandeep Rana in Chogo village, Nargarh.
Ajay and his wife Sandeep
The couple have a daughter named Anaya Thakur (born 27 April 2021).
Anaya Thakur, daughter of Ajay Thakur and Sandeep Thakur
religion
Ajay Thakur is a Hindu.
Ajay Thakur in temple
Profession
Ajay Thakur made his professional kabaddi debut in 2014 in his first season. He represented his employer Air India in the National Industry Championships. In 2017, he also captained the Indian team and led them to gold. He also led the Himachal Pradesh Men’s Team to the 67th National Senior Kabaddi Championships in 2020. Apart from his sporting achievements, Thakur is a dedicated member of the Himachal Pradesh Police and is currently serving as the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Una, Himachal Pradesh.
Ajay Thakur serves as Deputy Commissioner of Police, Una
Prokabadi
In Season 1, he played for the Bangalore Bulls, appearing in 15 games, scoring 122 rushing runs and five tackles.
Ajay Thakur and his teammates represent the Bengaluru Bulls
In the following seasons, he showcased his skills while playing for teams as diverse as Puneri Paltan and Tamil Tharaivas, amassing significant raid and tackle scores.
Ajay Thakur plays for Puneri Paltan
Kabaddi World Cup 2016
Thakur also showed great performance in the 2016 Kabaddi World Cup, where he became the top raider and the highest overall scorer with 68 points. It is worth noting that in the last game against Iran, Thakur played a key role, scoring 4 points in a row to help the Indian team take the lead. His outstanding performances saw him recognized as the best player in the 2016 Kabaddi World Cup.
Ajay Thakur during the 2016 Kabaddi World Cup
dispute
Pro Kabaddi League Exemptions 2019
Thakur wrote to Pro-Kabaddi League Commissioner Anupum Goswami specifically seeking exemption for this season but did not provide any explanation. According to reports, Thakur had a conflict with the state kabaddi association, which led to his resignation as captain of the state kabaddi team on July 17, 2022. Additionally, he requested that his name be removed from the senior national team roster. .
Suspended due to whereabouts violation
On March 19, 2021, Ajay Thakur received a provisional suspension notice under Article 2.4 of the Anti-Doping Rules. Thakur was suspended after he failed to submit his whereabouts within the stipulated time. It is worth noting that Thakur captained the Indian team in the 2018 Asian Games and successfully defended the title and won the bronze medal.
Not satisfied with cash reward
Ajay Thakur has been in the news for expressing displeasure with the government over the cash incentives being given to players. The talented raider showed his quality by scoring 14 points against Iran and pulled off an unexpected comeback to win the Kabaddi World Cup 2016 for India. He said,
“The entire team was given Rs. 10 lakh from the sports ministry and that was it. If you divide it among yourself, you will find that the amount is symbolic. I am not saying that we should receive huge gifts. But whatever Sports, athletic achievements should be celebrated.”
2018 Asian Games defeat blamed on poor selection
India captain Ajay Thakur also blamed their Asian Games defeat on the selection controversy. He expressed frustration with the selection process and noted that the team was under increasing pressure even before the games began. Unfortunately, the Indian Kabaddi team lost to the Iranian team in the semi-finals, thus losing the chance to compete for the gold medal in the 2018 Asian Games. This marked the first time in 28 years that the Indian team had to settle for bronze. Adding to the controversy, former kabaddi player and Arjuna Award winner Honappa Gowda submitted a petition two weeks before the Asian Games, raising concerns about an unfair selection process.
Use vulgar language and refuse to apologize
Himachal Pradesh Kabaddi Association has demanded an unreserved apology from former national team captain and Padma Shri awardee Ajay Thakur as he accused the association of corruption in the selection process of the national team. Rajkumar Branta, president of the association, told a press conference that if Ajay failed to apologize within a week, a legal notice would be issued to him. Branta further mentioned that Ajay, who holds the position of Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), had used inappropriate language on social media and the matter would be brought to the attention of the Director General of Police (DGP). Branta clarified that a three-member committee formed on July 14 to investigate the corruption allegations made by Ajayi found the allegations to be false in its report submitted on Saturday. Branta said that if Ajayi had any evidence of wrongdoing, he should have approached the association rather than making public allegations. Meanwhile, addressing the media in Narragarh, Ajayi said he would not apologize. He emphasized that he was speaking out for talented athletes who were not selected for the national team. Ajayi confronted members of the association, saying they should resign and expressing concerns about non-sporting people running the association.
Awards, Honors, Achievements
Awards
- Arjuna Award(2019)
Ajay Thakur wins Arjuna Award
- Lotus Shi (2019)
Ajay Thakur posts about winning Padma Shri Award 2019
- 2016 Kabaddi World Cup Best Player
- Parshuram Gaurav Award from the Government of Himachal Pradesh
Honor
- SOTO (National Organ and Tissue Transplantation Organization) Brand Ambassador
- Ajay Thakur has been honored by the Book of World Records in London, UK.
Ajay Thakur’s post on winning world record
the medal
- Asian Indoor Martial Arts Games Kabaddi – Gold Medal (2013)
- 2007 Asian Indoor Games Kabaddi Gold Medal
- 2014 Asian Games – Gold Medal
- Asian Kabaddi Championship 2017 (Gorgan, Iran) – Gold Medal.
- World Cup 2016 (Ahmedabad, India) – Gold Medal
- 2018 Asian Games (Jakarta, Indonesia) – Bronze Medal
bike collection
Ajay owns Royal Enfield.
Ajay Thakur rides his Royal Enfield
salary
His salary is Rs. As of 2017, 6.9 million per quarter.
Favorites
Singer: Sidhu Muswala
Facts / Trivia
- Ajay Thakur was born into a family already involved in Kabaddi. His father Chottu Ram has represented India in sports competitions in the past and his cousin Rakesh Kumar is also an outstanding kabaddi player. This family influence brought him into the sport at an early age.
- He started playing kabaddi at a very young age and competed in the 32kg kabaddi competition in his village at the age of 10, which was his first competition.
- He has a huge fan base which has given him many nicknames including “Ice Man”, “Flying Thakur” and “Kabaddi King”.
- Ajay acts as a raider in the team, and his signature move is the frog jump that often appears in the game. This move not only brought points but also added a thrilling element to the game.
- Ajayi suffered a spinal injury in a game in 2021 and underwent surgery in 2022.
Ajay Thakur after surgery
- In the professional kabaddi league, Thakur played for teams such as Bangalore Bulls and Pneripartan. However, he is most recognized for his time with the Tamil Talewa team, where he was captain. His jersey number for Pneripartan is 7.
- Ajay also announced plans to open a sports academy for the youth of Himachal Pradesh in Dabhota, Solan.
- He is a brand ambassador for several companies including PNB MetLife, Amway and Gatorade. He is a philanthropist and has participated in several charitable activities.
Ajay Thakur endorses fitness brand
- Kabaddi players are also very active on social media and have a YouTube channel with nearly 62,000 subscribers.
Ajay Thakur’s YouTube Channel
- Ajay also starred in the 2023 music video for Maidaan.
Ajay Thakur on the poster of the Maidan
- The India captain likes to keep fit and is often seen hitting the gym with his fellow teammates. He also likes swimming.
Ajie swimming photos
Ajay Thakur works out in the gym
- Ajay is also passionate about horses and enjoys riding them.
A photo of Ajay Thakur and his horse
- He is an animal lover who enjoys helping street animals and encourages his fans to do the same through his social media. In addition, he also had a pet pit bull who passed away in 2021. Ajay keeps some birds and rabbits in his hometown.
Ajay Thakur and his pet dog
A pet rabbit in Ajay Thakur’s hometown
Ajay often shows off his love for animals on his social media channels
Categories: Biography
Source: HIS Education