Ashu Malik Biography: Age, Height, Early Life, Kabaddi Career, Girlfriend, Net Worth and Stats

Ashu Malik is one of the most exciting young raiders in Indian kabaddi. Born in Sonipat, Haryana, he started playing kabaddi at a young age after watching senior players from his village and school. From local competitions to becoming a key player and captain of Dabang Delhi K.C. in the Pro Kabaddi League, Ashu Malik has built his career step by step. He has now earned another major opportunity after being selected in India’s 12-member men’s kabaddi squad for the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.

Ashu Malik was born on 9 January 2002, which makes him 24 years old as of August 2026. He plays as a right raider and wears jersey number 77 in the Pro Kabaddi League. Although his height is listed differently by different websites, several player profiles report him at around 178 cm, while some other online profiles list 183 cm, so his exact officially confirmed height is difficult to establish.

Ashu Malik Biography: Personal Details

Category	Details
Full Name	Ashu Malik
Date of Birth	9 January 2002
Age	24 years
Birthplace	Sonipat, Haryana, India
Nationality	Indian
Profession	Kabaddi Player
Playing Position	Right Raider
Jersey Number	77
Main Team	Dabang Delhi K.C.
Pro Kabaddi Debut	Season 8, 2021
Marital Status	Unmarried
Girlfriend	Not publicly confirmed
Height	Reported around 178 cm; sources differ
Asian Games 2026	Selected for India

Ashu Malik Early Life

Ashu Malik was born in Sonipat, Haryana, a part of the country with a long connection with kabaddi and wrestling. His interest in kabaddi started when he watched senior players from his village playing on the ground near his school. In an interview, Malik recalled that several senior players who worked in the railways used to play at his private school, and watching them helped him develop an interest in the sport.

At the beginning, becoming a professional kabaddi player was not an easy decision for him. His parents wanted him to give more attention to his studies, especially during the first few years of his sporting journey. However, as Malik began playing at higher levels and his performances improved, his family started supporting his kabaddi career and became an important part of his journey.

Malik started playing kabaddi seriously at around the age of 12, according to an interview cited by the Indian Express group publication. The village environment also played an important part in his early development because kabaddi was regularly played around him. Over time, local games gave way to more competitive tournaments, allowing the young raider to test himself against better players.

Ashu Malik Domestic Kabaddi Career

Before entering the Pro Kabaddi League, Ashu Malik made a name for himself in domestic and youth kabaddi competitions. His performances in the Yuva Kabaddi Series and the K7 Kabaddi Tournament helped him get noticed by scouts. These competitions gave him regular opportunities to play, score points and improve his raiding skills against strong opposition.

One of the biggest turning points came during the 2022 Summer Edition of the Yuva Kabaddi Series. Playing for Murthal Magnets, Malik scored 295 points in 26 matches, including 281 raid points and 14 tackle points. He also recorded 11 Super Raids and 25 Super 10s, helping Murthal Magnets win the tournament.

That season showed how quickly Malik could produce points as a young raider. His consistency in domestic tournaments brought him into the view of Pro Kabaddi scouts, and it eventually opened the door for his entry into Dabang Delhi K.C. His move from youth-level competitions to the country’s biggest kabaddi league came at a very young age.

Ashu Malik’s Entry Into Pro Kabaddi League

Ashu Malik joined Dabang Delhi K.C. in Pro Kabaddi Season 8 as a New Young Player. His first season came during one of the most important periods in the franchise’s history because Delhi went on to win its first PKL title. Malik scored 59 points in 22 matches in his debut campaign and got the chance to learn from experienced players while playing in a major professional league.

In Season 9, Malik took another big step forward. He scored 158 total points, including 141 raid points and 17 tackle points, while also recording six Super Raids and five Super 10s. He often played as the second raider alongside Naveen Kumar, but whenever Naveen was unavailable, Malik took on a bigger role and showed that he could handle more responsibility.

His biggest breakthrough came in PKL Season 10. Dabang Delhi used the Final Bid Match card to retain him for ₹96.25 lakh, and Malik responded with the best season of his career at that stage. He scored 276 raid points and 280 total points, while recording 15 Super 10s and nine Super Raids. He finished as one of the joint-highest raid point scorers of the season and was named the Best Raider of PKL Season 10.

One of his best performances in that season came against the Telugu Titans, when he scored 20 raid points in a single match. His average of around 12 raid points per match in Season 10 showed how important he had become to Dabang Delhi’s attack. His progress from a young backup raider to a main attacking player was one of the major stories of his early PKL career.

Ashu Malik as Dabang Delhi Captain

As his role inside the Dabang Delhi team grew, Malik also got leadership responsibility. He had already shown that he could take charge of the raiding department when Naveen Kumar was unavailable, and later he became one of the senior names in the team’s playing group despite being relatively young.

In PKL Season 12, Malik served as captain of Dabang Delhi K.C. and became part of a team that eventually won the Pro Kabaddi League title. He played only 14 matches in that season, scoring 154 points, but his leadership role remained an important part of the campaign. Current career records list his PKL tally at 105 matches and 916 total points.

Ashu Malik and the Indian Kabaddi Team

Ashu Malik’s progress at the domestic and Pro Kabaddi level eventually brought him into the national-team selection system. In 2026, he was part of India’s preparation camp for the Asian Games and trained with several of the country’s leading kabaddi players at the Inspire Institute of Sport in Bellary, Karnataka. The first preparatory camp was held from March 27 to April 2, 2026.

As of August 2026, there is no reliable record showing Malik had already played an Asian Games match or a senior World Cup match for India before this selection. His inclusion in the final 12-member India men’s kabaddi squad for the 2026 Asian Games therefore marks his first Asian Games selection. The squad was announced in August and includes fellow raiders Ayan Lohchab, Devank Dalal, Arjun Deshwal and Pawan Sehrawat.

Ashu Malik at Asian Games 2026

The 2026 Asian Games will be held in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, from September 19 to October 4. Kabaddi will be played from September 21 to September 26, and India have been placed in Group A alongside Bangladesh, the Republic of Korea, Chinese Taipei and hosts Japan.

India’s 12-member men’s squad includes Ashu Malik, Ayan Lohchab, Devank Dalal, Arjun Deshwal, Pawan Sehrawat, Aslam Inamdar, Sunil Kumar, Jaideep Dahiya, Rahul Sethpal, Gaurav Khatri, Sumit Sangwan and Ankit Jaglan. Malik is one of four right raiders in the group, making him an important attacking option for the team.

The selection is also notable because Ashu Malik is among the eight Indian men’s players making their Asian Games debut. His selection followed the national preparation camps and the final selection process conducted for the 2026 Games.

Ashu Malik Personal Life

Ashu Malik generally keeps his personal life away from the public spotlight. Unlike many other sports personalities, he has not shared many details about his relationships, private routines or family life in public interviews. Because of this, there is limited verified information available about his life away from kabaddi.

His parents have, however, been mentioned in interviews about his career. Malik has said that his parents initially wanted him to focus on studies, but later supported his sporting journey. He also revealed that his parents enjoy watching his matches and call him after games, supporting him whether he wins or loses.

Ashu Malik Girlfriend

There is no reliable public information confirming Ashu Malik’s girlfriend or current relationship status. He has largely kept this part of his life private, and there has been no confirmed announcement from Malik about a girlfriend or partner.

Therefore, reports or social media posts linking him with someone should be treated carefully unless they come directly from the player or a trustworthy source. At present, the safest description is that Ashu Malik is unmarried and his girlfriend’s identity, if any, has not been publicly confirmed.

Ashu Malik Hobbies

Kabaddi takes up a large part of Ashu Malik’s daily life, but he also enjoys spending time away from the mat. In an interview during the 2026 Asian Games preparation period, he said that he likes going on hilly trips with four or five friends from his village. These trips give him time to relax and spend time with people he has known for years.

Ashu Malik Professional Life

Professionally, Ashu Malik is a kabaddi player and right raider who has spent his entire PKL career with Dabang Delhi K.C. His professional journey has been interesting because he did not enter the league as an established star. Instead, he slowly built his name through youth tournaments, then moved into the PKL and became one of Delhi’s leading players.

His career also includes major individual recognition. The biggest of these came in PKL Season 10, when he was named the Best Raider after scoring 276 raid points. Later, he took on the captaincy role for Dabang Delhi and became part of the franchise’s title-winning campaign in Season 12.

Ashu Malik Net Worth

Ashu Malik’s exact net worth has not been officially disclosed. Various websites publish very different estimates, ranging from around ₹2-3 crore to figures as high as US$5 million, which shows that these numbers are not reliable enough to present as fact.

His professional earnings mainly come from his Pro Kabaddi contracts and other cricket- and sports-related income opportunities. Reported PKL auction figures show that his value has increased over the years, with his reported Season 12 retention price reaching around ₹1.90 crore. Because sponsorship income, taxes, investments and other private financial details are not publicly known, his true net worth cannot be confirmed.

Ashu Malik Facts

Ashu Malik’s journey contains several interesting facts that explain how quickly he has risen in Indian kabaddi. He started playing the sport at around 12 years of age, and his first major breakthrough came through youth competitions rather than the professional league.

He scored 295 points in 26 matches in the 2022 Yuva Kabaddi Series Summer Edition and helped Murthal Magnets win the title. Soon after, Dabang Delhi signed him as a New Young Player, giving him his first opportunity in the Pro Kabaddi League.

Another major fact is that Malik scored 20 points in a single PKL 10 match against the Telugu Titans. He then finished that season with 276 raid points and was named the Best Raider of the competition.

His current PKL career record stands at 105 matches, 882 raid points and 916 total points, with 46 Super 10s and 30 Super Raids. He is also now a member of India’s men’s kabaddi team for the Asian Games 2026 in Japan, where he is set to make his Asian Games debut.

Ashu Malik PKL Career Stats

Competition / Stage	Matches	Raid Points	Tackle Points	Total Points
PKL Season 8	22	51	8	59
PKL Season 9	23	141	17	158
PKL Season 10	23	276	4	280
PKL Season 11	23	262	3	265
PKL Season 12	14	152	2	154
PKL Career Total	105	882	34	916

Ashu Malik’s story is built around a steady rise from village and school kabaddi to the biggest professional league in India. He started by watching local players, then played youth competitions, impressed scouts and entered the Pro Kabaddi League with Dabang Delhi. Within a few seasons, he moved from being a young supporting raider to one of the team’s main players and later its captain.

Now, Ashu Malik has added another major chapter to his career with his selection for India at the Asian Games 2026. The 24-year-old raider from Sonipat will enter the competition as part of a new-look Indian men’s kabaddi squad, giving him an opportunity to represent the country at one of Asia’s biggest sporting events.

 

Category	Details
Full Name	Ashu Malik
Date of Birth	9 January 2002
Age	24 years
Birthplace	Sonipat, Haryana, India
Nationality	Indian
Profession	Kabaddi Player
Playing Position	Right Raider
Jersey Number	77
Main Team	Dabang Delhi K.C.
Pro Kabaddi Debut	Season 8, 2021
Marital Status	Unmarried
Girlfriend	Not publicly confirmed
Height	Reported around 178 cm; sources differ
Asian Games 2026	Selected for India

 

Ashu Malik – Early Life & Career

Ashu Malik – Pro Kabaddi League Journey

Ashu Malik – Major Career Achievements

Ashu Malik – India & Asian Games 2026

India’s 2026 Asian Games Men’s Kabaddi Squad

Ashu Malik – Personal Life

Ashu Malik – Financial Details

 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Ashu Malik
1. Who is Ashu Malik?

Ashu Malik is an Indian kabaddi player and right raider who plays for Dabang Delhi K.C. in the Pro Kabaddi League. He has progressed from youth and domestic competitions to becoming an important player and captain for his PKL team.

2. When was Ashu Malik born?

Ashu Malik was born on 9 January 2002 in Sonipat, Haryana, India. He is 24 years old as of August 2026.

3. What is Ashu Malik’s playing position?

Ashu Malik plays as a right raider. He wears jersey number 77 in the Pro Kabaddi League and has established himself as one of Dabang Delhi K.C.’s important attacking players.

4. When did Ashu Malik make his Pro Kabaddi debut?

Ashu Malik made his Pro Kabaddi League debut in Season 8 in 2021. He joined Dabang Delhi K.C. as a New Young Player and scored 59 points in 22 matches during his debut campaign.

5. What was Ashu Malik’s breakthrough season?

His major breakthrough came in PKL Season 10. He scored 276 raid points and 280 total points, while recording 15 Super 10s and nine Super Raids. He was subsequently named the Best Raider of the season.

6. How many points did Ashu Malik score in PKL Season 10?

Ashu Malik scored 280 total points in PKL Season 10, including 276 raid points and four tackle points. He also produced 15 Super 10s and nine Super Raids.

7. What is Ashu Malik’s highest-scoring PKL match?

One of his best individual performances came against the Telugu Titans in PKL Season 10, when he scored 20 raid points in a single match.

8. When did Ashu Malik become captain of Dabang Delhi?

Ashu Malik served as captain of Dabang Delhi K.C. in PKL Season 12. During that season, he played 14 matches and scored 154 total points. Dabang Delhi eventually won the Pro Kabaddi League title.

9. What is Ashu Malik’s PKL career record?

According to the provided career records, Ashu Malik has played 105 PKL matches. He has scored 882 raid points, 34 tackle points and 916 total points, along with 46 Super 10s and 30 Super Raids.

10. How did Ashu Malik start playing kabaddi?

Ashu Malik developed an interest in kabaddi after watching senior players from his village and school. He started playing the sport seriously at around the age of 12. The kabaddi environment in his village also played an important role in his early development.

11. Which domestic tournaments helped Ashu Malik?

Before entering the Pro Kabaddi League, Ashu Malik played in competitions such as the Yuva Kabaddi Series and K7 Kabaddi Tournament. His performances in these tournaments helped attract the attention of scouts.

12. What did Ashu Malik achieve in the 2022 Yuva Kabaddi Series?

Playing for Murthal Magnets in the 2022 Summer Edition of the Yuva Kabaddi Series, Malik scored 295 points in 26 matches. His tally included 281 raid points and 14 tackle points, along with 11 Super Raids and 25 Super 10s. Murthal Magnets won the tournament.

13. Has Ashu Malik been selected for India?

Yes. Ashu Malik was selected in India’s 12-member men’s kabaddi squad for the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. His selection represents his first Asian Games opportunity.

14. Will Ashu Malik make his Asian Games debut in 2026?

Yes. The provided information identifies him as one of the eight Indian men’s players making their Asian Games debut. India will compete in Group A alongside Bangladesh, the Republic of Korea, Chinese Taipei and Japan.

15. What is known about Ashu Malik’s personal life?

Ashu Malik generally keeps his personal life private. He is unmarried, while there is no reliable public information confirming his girlfriend or current relationship status. He has mentioned that he enjoys going on hilly trips with four or five friends from his village.

16. What is Ashu Malik’s net worth?

His exact net worth has not been officially disclosed. Different websites publish widely varying estimates, so these figures cannot be confirmed as fact. His professional earnings mainly come from his Pro Kabaddi contracts and other sports-related income opportunities.

17. What is Ashu Malik’s reported Season 12 retention price?

His reported Season 12 retention price was around ₹1.90 crore. However, private financial information such as sponsorship income, taxes and investments is not publicly known.

18. What makes Ashu Malik’s career notable?

Ashu Malik’s career is notable for his progression from village and school kabaddi to youth competitions, the Pro Kabaddi League, team captaincy and selection for India’s Asian Games squad. His rise has been built through consistent performances and increasing responsibility at every level.

 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Ashu Malik

 

 

My Perspective:

 

Ashu Malik have been phenomenal as player where he has delivered big time, he started as second fiddle under Naveen Kumar and later went on to establish themselves as top raider.

Ashu Malik Post Season 10 have been iconic game play and his ability to attack in crunch moments of the game makes it even more exceptional.

Ashu Malik have been brilliant exponent of the game as leader he has delivered trophy for delhi franchise, where they won Pro Kabaddi League Season 12.

Ashu Malik, have been tactically sharp and guide his franchise, towards winning marquee event.

He is also one of the most talked about athlete in Kabaddi domain.