Manisha Kumari is an Indian kabaddi player from Haryana who won the gold medal with India at the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. India beat Iran 37-34 in the women’s final on 26 September 2026.
Manisha Kumari plays as a left corner defender. She has moved up from school and local tournaments to the Haryana state team and then to the Indian national team.
She was one of the defenders in India’s 12-member squad at the Asian Games, and her tackling was noted in India’s opening win over Bangladesh.
Below are the details of her early life, family, domestic career, national team journey and playing style.
Manisha Kumari Early Life:
Manisha Kumari grew up in a village in Haryana, where she learned the basics of kabaddi on school grounds.
She was born on 6th April 2003, in Rohila village, Bhiwani district, Haryana.
Her family has an agricultural background. Her father, Rajpal Singh, is a farmer, and her mother, Rajpati Devi, is a homemaker.
She has five siblings: three elder sisters, one younger sister and one younger brother.
One of her elder sisters plays kabaddi, which shows the strong family and community link with the sport in Haryana.
She started playing kabaddi at the age of 14, inspired by her elder sister.
She started training at the Government Senior Secondary School grounds in Rohila and later improved her game under coach Dharampal Rohil, who helped her refine her defensive skills.
Her signature kabaddi move is the “Ankle Hold”, a classic defensive move in women’s kabaddi.
Her kabaddi style is based on tenacity, timing and strong ankle holds to stop raiders.
Her favourite player and role model is Rinki Mithrawan of the Haryana state team.
In her 2024 player profile, she was studying for a BA degree (third year) alongside her sport. Apart from kabaddi, she also has an interest in baseball.
Manisha Kumari Domestic Career:
Manisha Kumari has represented her school, college, district and state in kabaddi.
She won the Best Defender Award at a local tournament in Bibipur, Jind (2023-24), where she received a bike as the prize. It was an early milestone that raised her profile.
In the JSG Women’s Yuva Kabaddi Series 2024, she played as a left corner defender for Murthal Magnets. The series has become a platform for emerging women players.
Manisha Kumari National Team Journey:
In October 2025, the Amateur Kabaddi Federation of India named Manisha Kumari, a left corner from Haryana, among the probables for the senior women’s national coaching camp at SAI Gandhinagar. The camp ran from 27 October to 13 November 2025, before the Women’s Kabaddi World Cup in Dhaka.
In 2026, she was selected in India’s 12-member women’s kabaddi squad for the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. The squad was captained by Pushpa Rana and also included Ritu Negi, Sonali Shingate, Sanju Devi, Pooja Kajla, Ritu Sheoran, Jyoti Thakur, Pinki Roy, Bhavna Thakur, Rajrani and Nikita.
Manisha Kumari at the Asian Games 2026:
India began their title defence with a 42-21 win over Bangladesh on 21 September 2026. Manisha Kumari and the Indian defence kept the Bangladesh raiders in check, and she was effective from the left side of the defence.
India then beat Iran 37-23 and Japan 50-25 in the group stage and defeated Nepal 48-24 in the semi-final.
In the final on 26 September 2026, India beat Iran 37-34 to retain the gold medal. It was India’s fourth Asian Games gold in women’s kabaddi, and Manisha Kumari came home with a gold medal.
Manisha Kumari Profile
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Manisha Kumari |
| Date of Birth | 6 April 2003 |
| Birthplace | Rohila village, Bhiwani district, Haryana |
| State | Haryana |
| Sport | Kabaddi |
| Playing Position | Left Corner Defender |
| Family Background | Agricultural family |
| Father | Rajpal Singh – Farmer |
| Mother | Rajpati Devi – Homemaker |
| Siblings | Five – three elder sisters, one younger sister and one younger brother |
| Family Sporting Connection | One of her elder sisters also plays kabaddi |
| Age When She Started Kabaddi | 14 years |
| Inspiration to Start Kabaddi | Inspired by her elder sister |
| Early Training Ground | Government Senior Secondary School grounds, Rohila |
| Coach/Mentor | Dharampal Rohil |
| Speciality | Defensive play |
| Signature Move | Ankle Hold |
| Playing Style | Tenacity, timing and strong ankle holds to stop raiders |
| Favourite Player & Role Model | Rinki Mithrawan |
| Education | BA student (third year, as of her 2024 profile) |
| Other Sporting Interest | Baseball |
| Notable Award | Best Defender Award at a local tournament in Bibipur, Jind (2023-24) |
| Prize for Best Defender Award | Bike |
| Yuva Kabaddi Series | JSG Women’s Yuva Kabaddi Series 2024 – Murthal Magnets |
| Position in Yuva Kabaddi Series | Left Corner Defender |
| National Camp | Senior women’s national coaching camp, SAI Gandhinagar (October–November 2025) |
| Asian Games 2026 | Gold medal with India at Aichi-Nagoya (final: India 37-34 Iran) |
| Key Career Feature | Progressed from local and state-level competitions to an Asian Games gold |
| Key Support System | Family, coaches and the Haryana kabaddi set-up |
Manisha Kumari – Career Journey
| Stage | Details |
|---|---|
| Early Life | Grew up in Rohila village, Haryana, in an agricultural family |
| Entry into Kabaddi | Started playing kabaddi at the age of 14 after being inspired by her elder sister |
| Initial Training | Trained at the Government Senior Secondary School grounds in Rohila |
| Skill Development | Developed her defensive abilities under coach Dharampal Rohil |
| Local-Level Recognition | Won the Best Defender Award at Bibipur, Jind, during 2023-24 |
| Major Prize | Received a bike after being named Best Defender |
| Emerging-Level Competition | Played as a left corner defender for Murthal Magnets in the JSG Women’s Yuva Kabaddi Series 2024 |
| National Camp (2025) | Named among the probables for the senior women’s national coaching camp at SAI Gandhinagar |
| Asian Games (2026) | Part of India’s 12-member squad that won gold in Aichi-Nagoya |
| Playing Identity | Known for defensive tenacity, timing and ankle holds |
Manisha Kumari – Playing Profile
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Primary Position | Left Corner Defender |
| Primary Role | Defensive specialist |
| Signature Skill | Ankle Hold |
| Key Strength | Timing |
| Defensive Quality | Tenacity |
| Tackling Approach | Uses strong ankle holds to stop raiders |
| Inspiration | Rinki Mithrawan |
Manisha Kumari Social Media:
She is not widely active on social media, and no verified public accounts in her name were found.
Frequently asked questions
Who is Manisha Kumari?
Manisha Kumari is an Indian kabaddi player from Haryana who plays as a left corner defender. She won the gold medal with India at the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.
Which state does Manisha Kumari play kabaddi for?
She plays for Haryana. The Amateur Kabaddi Federation of India listed her as a left corner from Haryana in its 2025 national camp list.
Where was Manisha Kumari born?
Manisha Kumari was born on 6 April 2003 in Rohila village, Bhiwani district, Haryana.
What position does Manisha Kumari play?
She plays as a left corner defender. Her signature move is the ankle hold, and her style relies on tenacity and timing.
Was Manisha Kumari in India’s squad for the 2026 Asian Games?
Yes. She was selected in India’s 12-member women’s kabaddi squad for the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, which was captained by Pushpa Rana.
Did Manisha Kumari win a medal at the 2026 Asian Games?
Yes. India beat Iran 37-34 in the final on 26 September 2026, giving her and the team the gold medal.
Who are Manisha Kumari’s parents?
Her father, Rajpal Singh, is a farmer, and her mother, Rajpati Devi, is a homemaker. She has five siblings.
How did Manisha Kumari start playing kabaddi?
She started playing kabaddi at the age of 14, inspired by her elder sister. She trained at the Government Senior Secondary School grounds in Rohila.
Who is Manisha Kumari’s coach?
Coach Dharampal Rohil helped her refine her defensive skills after she started at the school grounds in Rohila.
Which Yuva Kabaddi team did Manisha Kumari play for?
She played as a left corner defender for Murthal Magnets in the JSG Women’s Yuva Kabaddi Series 2024.
