Ankit Jaglan is an Indian kabaddi defender from Nauhra village in Panipat district, Haryana. He plays as a left-corner defender for Patna Pirates, whom he captained in PKL Season 12 (2025). In September 2026 he won the Asian Games gold medal with India's men's kabaddi team at Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.
Early Life :
Ankit comes from Nauhra, a village in Panipat district of Haryana, the state that produces many of India's kabaddi players. No one in his family had a kabaddi background; he is the first kabaddi player from his household.
He was introduced to kabaddi at the age of nine, when he began watching seniors play in his village and on school grounds. He started playing around 2012-13, going with a neighbour to local grounds where he slowly built his skills.
In 2016-17, Ankit was selected for Haryana’s Junior Nationals team in Patna. This led to his place at the Sports Authority of India (SAI) centre in Sonepat, where he trained for two years. By 2019, he secured a government job, which gave him financial stability while he continued his kabaddi career.
Domestic Career:
Ankit’s domestic career moved through state and national-level competitions. After his SAI training, he represented Haryana in state championships and played in tournaments such as the Haryana Youth Championship and the National University Games, where he made his name as a defender.
He also plays in the Kabaddi Champions League (KCL), the Haryana league. At the KCL auction in December 2025, Panipat Panthers made him their top buy at ₹9.8 lakh.
Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) Journey:
All of Ankit Jaglan's PKL matches have come for Patna Pirates, from Season 10 to Season 12. At the PKL 2023 auction for Season 10, Patna Pirates bought him for ₹31.5 lakh even though he was a Category D player.
With Patna Pirates, Ankit settled in as a left-corner defender. In Season 10, he scored 66 tackle points in 23 matches with a 45% tackle success rate. In Season 11, he scored 79 tackle points in 25 matches with a 51% tackle success rate and 8 Super Tackles, and Patna reached the final, where they lost to Haryana Steelers. He was made captain midway through Season 11 after starting it as vice-captain.
Patna released him before the PKL Season 12 auction in May 2025, then used their Final Bid Match (FBM) card to bring him back for ₹1.573 crore. That was reported as the highest price ever paid for an Indian defender in the PKL. On 19 August 2025, Patna Pirates named him captain for Season 12, with Deepak Singh as vice-captain. He scored 51 tackle points in 22 matches that season.
Across 70 PKL matches, Ankit has scored 196 points, almost all through tackles, with 179 successful tackles, 17 Super Tackles and 11 High 5s.
| Pro Kabaddi League Season & Matches Played | Total Tackles Attempted | Tackle Points Scored | No of High 5 | Average Successful Tackles Per Match |
| Season 10 (23) | 135 | 66 | 5 | 2.65 |
| Season 11 (25) | 140 | 79 | 4 | 2.84 |
| Season 12 (22) | 117 | 51 | 2 | 2.13 |
Asian Games Participation:
Ankit Jaglan was selected in India's 12-member men's kabaddi squad for the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, as a left-corner defender. Sunil Kumar captained the team, with Pawan Sehrawat as vice-captain. The squad also included Arjun Deshwal, Devank Dalal, Ayan Lohchab, Aslam Inamdar and Ashu Malik.
It was Ankit’s first Asian Games. He was one of eight players in the squad making their Asian Games debut.
Ankit Jaglan Wins Asian Games Gold (2026)
The kabaddi competition was held from 21 to 26 September 2026 at the Tokai Citizens Gymnasium. India topped Group A by beating Japan 49-24, the Republic of Korea 63-31, Bangladesh 48-25 and Chinese Taipei 37-21. In the semi-final, India beat Thailand 66-28.
In the final on 26 September 2026, India beat Iran 40-34 to retain the gold medal they had won at the Hangzhou 2022 edition. Iran led 18-17 at half-time before India pulled ahead in the second half. It was India's ninth Asian Games gold in men's kabaddi.
Social Media Presence
Ankit is on Instagram as @anki_jaglan02, where he shares photos and videos from training, PKL matches and personal milestones.
Patna Pirates have also featured Ankit in their official content, including YouTube videos where he talks about his education, his family’s support and his PKL experience.
My Perspective:
Ankit Jaglan’s path, from a village boy with no family sporting background to PKL captain and Asian Games gold medallist, shows how Haryana’s grassroots kabaddi system and leagues like the PKL and KCL now lead to the national team.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Ankit Jaglan |
| Profession | Indian Kabaddi Player |
| Playing Position | Left-Corner Defender |
| Village | Nauhra village, Panipat district, Haryana |
| State | Haryana |
| Family’s Kabaddi Background | No one in Ankit’s family had a kabaddi background. He is the first kabaddi player from his household. |
| Introduction to Kabaddi | Ankit was introduced to kabaddi at the age of nine after watching seniors play in his village and on school grounds. |
| Start of Playing Career | He started playing kabaddi around 2012–13 after going with a neighbour to local grounds. |
| Junior Nationals Selection | In 2016–17, he was selected for Haryana’s Junior Nationals team in Patna. |
| SAI Training | After his Junior Nationals selection, he joined the Sports Authority of India (SAI) centre in Sonepat, where he trained for two years. |
| Government Job | Ankit secured a government job in 2019, which gave him financial stability while he continued his kabaddi career. |
| Domestic Career | Represented Haryana in state championships. |
| Domestic Competitions | Took part in competitions including the Haryana Youth Championship and National University Games. |
| PKL Team | Patna Pirates (Season 10 to Season 12) |
| PKL 2023 Auction | Patna Pirates bought Ankit for ₹31.5 lakh in the PKL 2023 auction for Season 10. |
| Auction Category | He was a Category D player at the Season 10 auction. |
| PKL Season 10 | 66 tackle points in 23 matches with a 45% tackle success rate. |
| PKL Season 11 | 79 tackle points in 25 matches with a 51% tackle success rate and 8 Super Tackles; Patna Pirates finished runners-up. |
| PKL Season 12 Auction | Retained by Patna Pirates with the Final Bid Match card for ₹1.573 crore (May 2025). |
| PKL Season 12 Captaincy | Named Patna Pirates captain on 19 August 2025, with Deepak Singh as vice-captain. |
| PKL Season 12 | 51 tackle points in 22 matches. |
| Overall PKL Career | 70 matches. |
| Total PKL Points | 196 total points. |
| Successful Tackles | 179 successful tackles. |
| Super Tackles | 17 Super Tackles. |
| High 5s | 11 High 5s. |
| Asian Games | Gold medal, men’s kabaddi, Aichi-Nagoya 2026 (his Asian Games debut). |
| National Team Position | Left-corner defender. |
| India Squad Teammates | Sunil Kumar (captain), Pawan Sehrawat (vice-captain), Arjun Deshwal, Devank Dalal and Ayan Lohchab, among others. |
| 2026 Asian Games Final | India beat Iran 40–34 on 26 September 2026. |
| 2022 Asian Games Final | India beat Iran 33–29 at the Hangzhou 2022 edition, held in 2023. |
| KCL Team | Panipat Panthers (top buy at ₹9.8 lakh, December 2025 auction). |
| Instagram Handle | @anki_jaglan02 |
| Career Journey | Village kabaddi → Haryana Junior Nationals → SAI Sonepat → domestic competitions → Patna Pirates → PKL captain → Asian Games gold 2026. |
My Perspective:
Ankit Jaglan has been Patna Pirates’ regular left-corner defender for three PKL seasons. He led Patna Pirates as captain and was part of the India squad that retained the Asian Games title in 2026.
Frequently asked questions
Who is Ankit Jaglan?
Ankit Jaglan is an Indian kabaddi player who plays as a left-corner defender. He captained Patna Pirates in PKL Season 12 and won Asian Games gold with India in 2026.
Which village is Ankit Jaglan from?
Ankit Jaglan is from Nauhra village in Panipat district, Haryana.
What position does Ankit Jaglan play?
He plays as a left-corner defender, both for Patna Pirates and for India.
Which PKL team does Ankit Jaglan play for?
Ankit Jaglan plays for Patna Pirates. All of his 70 PKL matches have come for Patna, from Season 10 to Season 12.
How much did Patna Pirates pay for Ankit Jaglan at the PKL 12 auction?
Patna Pirates used their Final Bid Match card to bring him back for ₹1.573 crore at the Season 12 auction in May 2025. It was reported as the highest price ever paid for an Indian defender in the PKL.
What was Ankit Jaglan's price in the PKL Season 10 auction?
Patna Pirates bought him for ₹31.5 lakh at the PKL 2023 auction for Season 10, when he was a Category D player.
Was Ankit Jaglan the captain of Patna Pirates?
Yes. Patna Pirates named him captain for PKL Season 12 on 19 August 2025, with Deepak Singh as vice-captain. He had taken over as captain midway through Season 11.
Did Ankit Jaglan win a medal at the 2026 Asian Games?
Yes. He won the gold medal with India's men's kabaddi team at the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. It was his first Asian Games.
Who did India beat in the 2026 Asian Games men's kabaddi final?
India beat Iran 40-34 in the final on 26 September 2026 to retain the gold medal. Iran had led 18-17 at half-time.
Which KCL team does Ankit Jaglan play for?
He plays for Panipat Panthers in the Kabaddi Champions League. They made him their top buy at ₹9.8 lakh at the December 2025 auction.
