Pankaj Rathod

Pankaj Prakash Rathod, born on April 1, 2003, hails from Nanded, Maharashtra. Growing up in a family of farmers, Pankaj inherited a strong work ethic from his father, Prakash Rathod, and his mother, Sushila Rathod, who is a dedicated homemaker. Despite having three sisters, with one elder and two younger, Pankaj found his passion for kabaddi at the age of 13 while attending school in Nanded. Primarily a left raider, Pankaj is known for his exceptional jumping ability, which allows him to outmaneuver opponents with ease. Under the guidance of his coach Ayuf Pathan and rigorous training sessions at the S.M. Patel Foundation, Pankaj has honed his skills to become a formidable force on the kabaddi mat. While he admires players like Aslam Inamdar for their bonus skills, Pankaj's own favorite move is the jump, which he executes with precision and finesse. Despite having represented his state in 2020, Pankaj remains humble about his achievements and is focused on furthering his kabaddi career. Alongside his kabaddi pursuits, Pankaj also enjoys playing volleyball and is pursuing a college graduation degree in SYBA. With aspirations to compete in the Pro Kabaddi League (PKL), Pankaj continues to train diligently, driven by his determination to succeed at the highest level of the sport.