Bhavna Thakur is an Indian kabaddi player who plays as a defender for Himachal Pradesh and the Indian women's national team.
In September 2026 she won the Asian Games gold medal with India at Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. India beat Iran 37-34 in the women's final on 26 September 2026. A year earlier, in November 2025, she was part of the Indian team that won the Women's Kabaddi World Cup in Dhaka, Bangladesh.
Bhavna Thakur comes from Himachal Pradesh, a state that has produced many of India's leading women kabaddi players. She is a right cover defender who is known for staying calm in close games.
Bhavna Thakur is also known as "Bhawna Thakur" and "Bhavna Devi". The different spellings appear in news reports and team lists.
Bhavna Thakur Kabaddi Player Early Life:
Bhavna Thakur was born on 16 January 1999 in Baila village in Mandi district, Himachal Pradesh. Her father, Prem Singh, is a farmer and her mother, Dassi, is a homemaker.
She has five siblings: one elder brother and three sisters.
She received her early kabaddi training from Netra Singh and Prem Thakur at the Mandi District Kabaddi Association.
She has pursued a master's degree in history.
Growing up in rural Himachal Pradesh helped her build stamina, strength and endurance. These qualities later helped her grow as a defender.
Her village did not have modern sports facilities. She trained on school grounds and in village matches with friends and neighbours, and this helped her athletic development.
Bhavna Thakur National Games Journey:
Before reaching the national level, she played in many domestic tournaments.
She started playing kabaddi at the age of 14 and moved up through these levels:
A- School
B- College
C- District
She later moved into the Himachal Pradesh state team.
She plays at the right cover position. Her main strengths as a defender are:
- Strong Body Blocks
- Quick Reactions
- Good Footwork
- Clean Tackling Technique
- Ability to Read Raider Development
- Calmness Under Pressure
She played for the Himalayan Tahrs in the Yuva Kabaddi Series 2024. Her statistics from that season are shown below:
She played 8 matches and scored 43 points, an average of 5.37 points per match.
She made 34 tackle attempts and won 17 tackle points, an average of 2.12 successful tackles per match and a tackle success rate of 50%.
She also recorded 1 High 5.
Bhavna Thakur at the Women's Kabaddi World Cup 2025:
Bhavna Thakur was part of the Indian team that won the second Women's Kabaddi World Cup in Dhaka, Bangladesh, in November 2025. India beat Chinese Taipei 35-28 in the final.
When she returned home in December 2025, the District Kabaddi Association in Mandi held a reception in her honour.
Bhavna Thakur Wins Asian Games Gold (2026):
Bhavna Thakur was named in India's 12-member women's kabaddi squad for the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. The squad also included Pushpa Rana, Ritu Negi, Jyoti Thakur, Sonali Shingate, Sanju Devi, Pooja Kajla, Ritu Sheoran and Pinki Roy.
The kabaddi events were held at the Tokai Citizen Gymnasium. India won every match on the way to the title:
- Group match: India 42-21 Bangladesh (21 September 2026)
- Group match: India 37-23 Iran (23 September 2026)
- Group match: India 50-25 Japan (24 September 2026)
- Semi-final: India 48-24 Nepal
- Final: India 37-34 Iran (26 September 2026)
India, captained by Pushpa Rana, beat Iran 37-34 in a close final to retain the title. It was India's fourth Asian Games gold in women's kabaddi.
After the Games, Bhavna Thakur, Pushpa Rana and Jyoti Thakur met Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu in Shimla on 5 October 2026. The state government raised their cash reward to at least ₹1 crore each, up from about ₹33 lakh. The government also said the players would be offered jobs in the state police or the sports department.
Bhawna Thakur Social Media:
Bhavna Thakur shares updates about her training and matches on social media:
Bhawna Thakur Instagram: @bhavna_thakur_0011
Bhawna Thakur Facebook: facebook.com/bhavna.thakur.361375
Frequently asked questions
Who is Bhavna Thakur?
Bhavna Thakur is an Indian kabaddi player who plays as a defender for Himachal Pradesh and the Indian women's national team. She won the Asian Games gold medal with India in 2026.
Did Bhavna Thakur win a gold medal at the 2026 Asian Games?
Yes. She was part of the Indian women's team that won gold at Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, beating Iran 37-34 in the final on 26 September 2026.
Which teams did India beat at the 2026 Asian Games women's kabaddi event?
India beat Bangladesh, Iran and Japan in the group stage, Nepal 48-24 in the semi-final and Iran 37-34 in the final. India won all five matches.
What reward did Himachal Pradesh announce for Bhavna Thakur?
The Himachal Pradesh government raised her Asian Games cash reward to at least ₹1 crore, up from about ₹33 lakh. Pushpa Rana and Jyoti Thakur were given the same reward.
Was Bhavna Thakur part of the 2025 Women's Kabaddi World Cup team?
Yes. She was in the Indian team that won the second Women's Kabaddi World Cup in Dhaka in November 2025. India beat Chinese Taipei 35-28 in the final.
What position does Bhavna Thakur play in kabaddi?
Bhavna Thakur is a defender who plays at the right cover position.
When was Bhavna Thakur born?
Bhavna Thakur was born on 16 January 1999.
Which village is Bhavna Thakur from?
She was born in Baila village in Mandi district, Himachal Pradesh.
Who are Bhavna Thakur's parents?
Her father, Prem Singh, is a farmer and her mother, Dassi, is a homemaker. She has one elder brother and three sisters.
How did Bhavna Thakur do in the Yuva Kabaddi Series 2024?
Playing for the Himalayan Tahrs, she scored 43 points in 8 matches. She won 17 tackle points from 34 attempts, a tackle success rate of 50%.
