Indian professional Kabaddi player Ajay Thakur has established himself as a leading figure in the sport. He proudly served as the captain of the Indian national Kabaddi team and contributed to their success. Notably, he played a key role in securing gold medals for India in both the 2014 Asian Games and the 2016 Kabaddi World Cup.
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Wiki/Biography
Ajay Thakur, nicknamed Sonu, was born on Friday, 1 May 1987 (age 36 years; as in 2023) in Nalagarh, Himachal Pradesh. Their zodiac sign is Taurus. Ajay Thakur completed his schooling from Government Senior Secondary School, Dabhota. He pursued further education at the Government Post Graduation College in Nalagarh, Himachal Pradesh. He is also a graduate of Himachal Pradesh Police Academy.
Physical Appearance
Height (Approx): 6′ 1″
Weight (Approx): 76 kg
Hair Color: Black
Eye colour: brown
Body Measurements (Approx): Chest: 42”; Waist: 34”; Biceps: 15″
Family
parents and siblings
Ajay’s father Chhotu Ram is a former player who has represented India in the past.
A picture of Ajay Thakur’s father
His mother’s name is Rajinder Kaur.
Ajay Thakur’s mother
He has a younger brother named Abhinandan Chandel and a sister named Disha Thakur.
Ajay’s brother Abhinandan Chandel with his family
Ajay Thakur with his sister
wife and children
She married Sandeep Rana on Wednesday, 10 April 2019 at Jogo village in Nalagarh.
Ajay with his wife Sandeep
The couple has a daughter named Anaya Thakur (born April 27, 2021).
Anaya Thakur, daughter of Ajay and Sandeep Thakur
Religion
Ajay Thakur follows Hindu religion.
Ajay Thakur in a temple
livelihood
Ajay Thakur made his Pro Kabaddi debut with the first season in 2014. He represented his employer Air India in the Industrial National Championships. He also captained the Indian team in 2017 and led them to the gold medal. He has also led the Himachal men’s team in the 67th Senior National Kabaddi Championship 2020. Apart from his sporting achievements, Thakur is also a dedicated member of the Himachal Pradesh Police Service, currently serving as the Deputy Superintendent of Police in Una, Himachal. State.
Ajay Thakur has been appointed Deputy Superintendent of Police in Una
pro kabaddi
In Season 1, playing for Bengaluru Bulls, he appeared in 15 matches, scoring 122 raid points and 5 tackle points.
Ajay Thakur representing Bengaluru Bulls with his teammates
In the following seasons, he showcased his skills, scoring notable raid and tackle points while playing for various teams including Puneri Paltan and Tamil Thalaivas.
Ajay Thakur is playing for Puneri Paltan
kabaddi world cup 2016
Thakur’s excellent performance was also displayed during the Kabaddi World Cup 2016, where he emerged as the top raider with the most raid points and the highest overall points scorer with 68 points. Notably, in the final match against Iran, Thakur played a vital role by hitting a 4-point raid that helped India take the lead. Due to his exceptional performance he was recognized as the Man of the Tournament in the Kabaddi World Cup 2016.
Ajay Thakur during Kabaddi World Cup 2016
controversies
Exemption from Pro Kabaddi League 2019
Thakur wrote a letter to Pro-Kabaddi League commissioner Anupam Goswami, specifically demanding exemption for this particular season without giving any explanation. It was reported that Thakur was involved in a conflict with the state Kabaddi association, which led him to resign from the post of captain of the state Kabaddi team on July 17, 2022. Additionally, he requested that his name be left out of the senior national team roster. ,
Suspended for whereabouts violation
On March 19, 2021, Ajay Thakur received a notice of provisional suspension under Article 2.4 of the Anti-Doping Rules. The suspension was imposed due to Thakur failing to report his whereabouts within the stipulated time limit. Notably, Thakur captained the Indian team during the 2018 Asian Games, where they successfully defended their title and secured a bronze medal.
unhappy with cash prize
Ajay Thakur was in the news when he expressed his dissatisfaction with the cash awards given to the players by the government. The talented raider showcased his skills by scoring 14 points against Iran, leading to an unexpected comeback and ultimately victory for India in the 2016 Kabaddi World Cup. He said,
“The entire team was given Rs. 10 lakh by the Sports Ministry, and that’s all. If you divide it yourself, you will find that the amount is nominal. I am not saying that we should be showered with gifts. But sporting achievements should be celebrated regardless of the game.”
Improper selection blamed for defeat at 2018 Asian Games
Indian captain Ajay Thakur also blamed the selection controversy for their defeat in the Asian Games. He expressed disappointment over the selection process, noting that the team faced increasing pressure before the competition even began. Unfortunately, the Indian Kabaddi team lost against Iran in the semi-finals, ending their chances of competing for the gold medal at the 2018 Asian Games. This was the first time in 28 years that the Indian team had to be content with a bronze medal. Adding to the controversy, former Kabaddi player and Arjuna Award recipient Honnappa Gowda filed a petition two weeks before the Asian Games, raising concerns about the unjust selection process.
Use of abusive language and refusal to apologize
Himachal Pradesh Kabaddi Association has demanded an unconditional apology from former national team captain and Padma Shri awardee Ajay Thakur for alleging corruption in the selection process of the state team. Association president Rajkumar Branta said in a press conference that if Ajay fails to apologize within a week, he will be served a legal notice. Branta further mentioned that Ajay, who holds the post of Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), used inappropriate language on social media and the matter will be brought to the notice of the Director General of Police (DGP). Branta clarified that a three-member committee was formed on July 14 to investigate the corruption allegations made by Ajay and the committee’s report submitted on Saturday found the allegations to be false. Branta expressed his view that if Ajay had evidence of any wrongdoing, he should have approached the association instead of making public allegations. Meanwhile, Ajay, while addressing the media in Nalagarh, said that he will not apologise. He emphasized that he was speaking for the talented athletes who were not selected for the senior national team. Ajay raised questions on the members of the association, saying that they should resign and expressed concern over non-sporting persons being made in-charge of the association.
Awards, Honors, Achievements
award
- Arjuna Award (2019)
Ajay Thakur with his Arjuna Award
- Padma Shri (2019)
Ajay Thakur posts about winning Padma Shri award in 2019
- Man of the Tournament in Kabaddi World Cup 2016
- Parshuram Gaurav Award by Himachal Government
Respect
- Brand Ambassador of SOTO (State Organ and Tissue Transplant Organization)
- Ajay Thakur has been honored by the World Book of Records UK London.
Ajay Thakur’s post about winning the world record
medal
- Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games Kabaddi – Gold Medal (2013)
- Gold Medal in Kabaddi at the 2007 Asian Indoor Games
- 2014 Asian Games – Gold Medal
- Asian Kabaddi Championship 2017 (Gorgan, Iran) – Gold Medal.
- World Cup 2016 (Ahmedabad, India) – Gold Medal
- Asian Games 2018 (Jakarta, Indonesia) – Bronze Medal
bike collection
Ajay has a Royal Enfield.
Ajay Thakur riding on his Royal Enfield
Salary
He spent Rs. Earned a salary of Rs. 69 lakh per season as of 2017.
Favorite
Singer: Sidhu Moose Wala
Facts/General Knowledge
- Ajay Thakur was born in a family that was already associated with Kabaddi. His father, Chhotu Ram, has represented India in sports in the past, and his cousin, Rakesh Kumar, is also an accomplished Kabaddi player. This family influence got him involved in sports at an early age.
- He started playing Kabaddi at a young age and played his first match at the age of 10 in a 32 kg Kabaddi competition in his village.
- He has a huge fan following, who have given him many nicknames, including Ice Man, Flying Thakur and King of Kabaddi.
- Ajay has played as a raider for the team and his signature move is the frog jump, which is often seen during the game. This move not only brings points but also adds a thrilling element to the game.
- Ajay suffered a spinal cord injury during a tournament in 2021 and underwent surgery in 2022.
Ajay Thakur after surgery
- In the Pro Kabaddi League, Thakur has played for teams like Bengaluru Bulls and Puneri Paltan. However, he is most recognized for his stint with Tamil Thalaivas, where he served as a captain. His jersey number for Puneri Paltan team was 7.
- On the same day, Ajay also announced his plans to open a sports academy for the youth of Himachal in Dabhota, Solan.
- He is the brand ambassador of many companies including PNB MetLife, Amway and Gatorade. He is a philanthropist and has been involved in many charitable initiatives.
Ajay Thakur is endorsing a fitness brand
- The Kabaddi player is also very active on social media and has a YouTube channel which has around 62K subscribers.
Ajay Thakur’s YouTube channel
- Ajay also starred in a 2023 music video titled Maidaan.
Ajay Thakur on Maidan poster
- The Indian captain likes to keep himself fit and is often seen going to the gym with his other teammates. He also likes swimming.
A picture of Ajay swimming
Ajay Thakur working out in the gym
- Ajay is also fond of horses and loves horse riding.
A picture of Ajay Thakur with his horse
- He is an animal lover who loves helping street animals and encourages his fans to do the same through his social media. Furthermore, he also had a pet pitbull dog which died in 2021. Ajay has some birds and rabbits at his native place.
Ajay Thakur with his pet dog
Pet rabbit at Ajay Thakur’s native place
Ajay often shows his love for animals on his social media channels.
Categories: Biography
Source: vcmp.edu.vn