Arjun Rathee

Arjun Anil Rathee, born on 17th January 2002 in Narsankala, Uttarakhand, hails from a humble farming family. His father is a farmer, and his mother a homemaker. As their only child, Arjun has always received unwavering support from his family to pursue his passion for Kabaddi. Arjun’s journey in Kabaddi began in 2016 during his school days, when he started training under his first coach, Nitin Kumar. Inspired by the legendary Deepak Niwas Hooda, former captain of the Indian Kabaddi team and renowned for his raiding skills, Arjun was determined to make his mark in the sport. Currently, Arjun trains at the Chaudhary Club in Kakda, Muzaffarnagar, Uttar Pradesh, where he dedicates three hours daily to intense evening practice sessions, showcasing his relentless commitment to improving his game. Arjun’s breakthrough came in the Yuva Kabaddi Series (YKS) Monsoon Edition 2022, held in Ranchi. Playing for the Tadoba Tigers, despite the team’s struggles, Arjun stood out with an incredible debut, amassing 158 raid points in just 9 matches. He also set a YKS record for being the fastest to score 100 raid points in the tournament’s history. Following his impressive debut, Arjun joined the Chola Veerans in the YKS Winter Edition 2022, where he finished as the tournament’s second-best raider with 223 raid points. Arjun has since become a regular face in the YKS, moving to the Himalayan Tahrs for the Winter Edition 2023. He is now the most successful raider in YKS history, with 593 raid points, becoming the third player to join the 500 raid points club. He is also on the verge of becoming the first raider in YKS history to reach 600 raid points. Along the way, he set records for the most Super 10s (34) and Super Raids (30) in the series. After facing multiple setbacks and injuries, Arjun finally achieved one of his lifelong dreams in 2024, securing a sports quota job with the Indian Army. He now proudly represents the Red Army team. In a further milestone, Arjun was signed by the Bengal Warriors in the Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) 11 auctions for an impressive ₹41 lakhs, becoming the most expensive player in Category D. Joining the PKL marks another incredible chapter in his Kabaddi journey.