Sakshi Sharma is one of the brightest young defenders in Indian women’s kabaddi today.
At just 21, she has already represented India at major international tournaments, led her university to national titles, captained her state team, and earned a spot in the Indian squad for the Women’s Kabaddi World Cup 2025.
Her journey is not the typical sports story filled with early fame or big resources. Sakshi comes from a humble family in Himachal Pradesh, where her father, Pardeep Sharma, works as a lineman in the electricity department.
Growing up in a family with five siblings, Sakshi learned early what discipline, hard work, and balance meant.
Today, she manages something many young athletes struggle with. Pursuing higher education and playing professional kabaddi at the same time.
She is currently completing her Master’s degree in English from Chandigarh University, showing that she is not only strong on the kabaddi mat but equally determined in the classroom.
This is the detailed story of Sakshi Sharma, her early life, her rise through domestic kabaddi, her achievements, her leadership personality, and her journey to the Indian national team.
Early Life: A Small-Town Girl with Big Dreams
Sakshi Sharma is from Hamirpur, a peaceful district in Himachal Pradesh known for its disciplined lifestyle and love for sports. But her roots go even deeper into the sports culture of the state.
Her family originally belongs to the Sirmaur district, which has produced several national and international kabaddi stars.
Growing up in such an environment, Sakshi naturally developed an interest in kabaddi.
She would watch senior players from her area competing in tournaments, and their success inspired her to imagine a future in the sport.
Early Influences
- Watching local players represent India
- Support from family despite limited resources
- Natural strength and interest in physical activities
- Early encouragement from school coaches
Even as a child, she enjoyed the thrill of blocking and defending opponents. Her teachers often praised her sharp reactions and confidence. But real kabaddi started for her when she joined a proper academy.
Joining the Sports Hostel
Sakshi’s real journey began in 2015, when she joined the Himachal Pradesh Sports Hostel. This was a major turning point because the hostel provided:
- Regular professional coaching
- A competitive training environment
- Exposure to district, state, and national matches
- The discipline of living and training like an athlete
Here, Sakshi learned the basics of defensive discipline, mat awareness, footwork, and team coordination.
The hostel also gave her the mental toughness she is now known for. Competing with other talented girls from across Himachal made her stronger and more focused.
This foundation became the stepping stone for her success in university and national tournaments later.
Playing Style:
Sakshi Sharma is primarily a left-side defender, but what makes her special is her versatility. She can defend strongly and also raid when needed. This makes her a complete player—someone who can contribute to both ends of the game.
Key Strengths
- Strong blocking
- Sharp defensive reads
- Quick reaction time
- Good timing during tackles
- Smart positioning on the mat
- Ability to raid when required
Her coaches often praise her for staying calm under pressure. Many defenders panic when a raider rushes in, but Sakshi stays composed and waits for the right moment.
Why She Stands Out
- She plays with maturity beyond her age
- She anticipates raiders’ moves early
- She has a low-risk, high-impact defensive style
- She helps organize the defense and guide younger players
This defensive intelligence is what made her a natural leader on the mat.
Leading Chandigarh University to Gold
In 2024, Sakshi entered Chandigarh University to pursue her Master’s in English. But the highlight of her university journey wasn’t only academics — it was her stunning performance in kabaddi tournaments.
She represented Chandigarh University in the Khelo India University Games (KIUG) 2024, and in her very first appearance, she helped the team win the gold medal in the women’s kabaddi competition.
Her strong defensive performance and leadership impressed everyone. She played a crucial role in guiding the team during tough matches and finishing the tournament as champions.
But this was not her first KIUG medal.
Her KIUG Record
- Gold (1st edition, Odisha)—representing Himachal Pradesh University
- Silver (3rd edition, Uttar Pradesh)
- Gold (4th edition, Chandigarh University)
Her consistency across different teams and tournaments shows her adaptability and ability to perform under different coaches and systems.
National Career: Captain of Himachal Pradesh
Despite her young age, Sakshi is the captain of the Himachal Pradesh state kabaddi team. Leadership is not something she learned in a classroom. It came naturally from her experience, confidence, and reading of the game.
What Makes Her a Good Leader
- She communicates clearly on the mat
- She motivates her teammates during pressure moments
- She studies opponents’ strategies
- She brings calmness to the team
- She makes tactical decisions quickly
Her teammates often say she leads not by commands but by example, her discipline, fitness, and hard work inspire everyone around her.
International Breakthrough: Asian Championship Gold
Sakshi’s biggest achievement came in 2025, when she represented India at the 6th Asian Women’s Kabaddi Championship in Tehran, Iran.
India won the gold medal, and Sakshi played an important defensive role in the team. The championship featured some of the strongest teams from Asia, including Iran, South Korea, and Nepal.
Competing at this level boosted Sakshi’s confidence and gave her the experience she needed to handle international pressure.
This gold medal also helped her earn a spot in the Women’s Kabaddi World Cup 2025 squad.
Selected for Women’s Kabaddi World Cup 2025
The biggest moment of her career so far is her selection for the 2nd Women’s Kabaddi World Cup 2025 to be held in Dhaka, Bangladesh from November 17 to 24, 2025.
India’s World Cup Squad 2025
- Captain: Ritu Negi
- Vice-Captain: Pushpa Rana
- Head Coach: Tejaswini Bai
- Assistant Coach: Kavita Selvaraj
Being selected in such a strong squad shows how far Sakshi has come since her early hostel days. Her defensive expertise will play a major role in India’s strategy as they aim to defend their title.
Balancing Sports and Education
One of the most inspiring things about Sakshi is how she balances intense kabaddi training with her university studies.
While many athletes choose to focus only on sports, Sakshi believes in building a strong future off the mat as well. Completing her Master’s in English is a goal she takes seriously.
Her Daily Balance Includes
- Morning training sessions
- University classes
- Evening practice
- Fitness and recovery
- Study time
- Travel for tournaments
Her dedication shows that she is not only a good athlete but also a disciplined student.
Personal Life: Humble Roots and Big Determination
Sakshi grew up in a simple household where nothing came easy. With her father working as a lineman and supporting a large family of six children, Sakshi learned early how important hard work is.
Her journey was not always smooth — there were financial challenges, travel struggles, and the pressure of balancing studies and sports. But she continued because:
- Kabaddi is her passion
- Her family supported her dreams
- She wanted to make her state proud
- She believed in her abilities
Today, she is an inspiration for young girls in Himachal who want to make a name in sports.
Social Media Presence
Sakshi is active on Instagram, where she posts about her training, tournaments, and personal life.
@sakshi_sharma._06
Her posts show her grounded personality, dedication, and positive attitude.
Conclusion:
Sakshi Sharma’s journey is a perfect example of how talent, discipline, and hard work can take a player from a small town to the international stage. At just 21, she has already achieved more than many players achieve in their entire careers — and the future looks even brighter.
With her defensive sharpness, leadership qualities, academic balance, and humble personality, Sakshi represents the new face of Indian women’s kabaddi. As she steps into the Women’s Kabaddi World Cup 2025, fans across India will be watching her with pride and hope.
“Rohit is a seasoned sports journalist with over 5 years of experience specializing in Indian sports. He has built a reputation for his deep-dive analysis of the Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) and domestic Indian Cricket. From tracking player auctions to breaking down match-winning strategies, Rohit provides fans with expert insights grounded in years of on-ground reporting and statistical analysis.