Showbiz sportlight at 12:07, 24 April 2026

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{{short description|Indian professional kabaddi player|bot=PearBOT 5}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=January 2018}}
{{Infobox sportsperson
| name = Manjeet Chhillar
| image =
| image_size =
| caption = Manjeet Chhillar
| headercolor =
| native_name =
| native_name_lang = Hindi
| birth_name =
| fullname =
| nickname = One Man Army, Angry Young Man, Mighty Manjeet, Powerhouse
| nationality = Indian
| ethnicity =
| citizenship =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1986|08|18|df=y}}
| birth_place = Nizampur, [[Delhi]], India
| death_date =
| death_place =
| residence =
| education =
| alma_mater =
| occupation = Railways employee
| years_active =
| employer =
| agent =
| height = 1.73m<ref name="Sportskeedaprofile">{{cite web |title=manjeet chillar |url=https://www.sportskeeda.com/player/manjeet-chillar |website=Sportskeeda |accessdate=27 June 2019 |ref=9}}</ref>
| weight = 82 kg
| spouse =
| life_partner =
| other_interests =
| website =
| country = [[India]]
| sport = [[Kabaddi]]
| position = All-rounder
| event =
| league = [[Pro Kabaddi League]]
| club = [[Bengaluru Bulls]] (2014-2015) 
[[Puneri Paltan]] (2016-2017) 
[[Jaipur Pink Panthers]] (2017) 
[[Tamil Thalaivas]] (2018-2020) 
[[Dabang Delhi]] (2021)
| team = [[India national kabaddi team]]
| turnedpro =
| coach =
| retired =
| worlds =
| regionals =
| nationals =
| highestranking =
| medaltemplates = {{Medal|Country|{{IND}}}}
{{Medal|Competition|[[Asian Games]]}}
{{Medal|Gold|[[2010 Asian Games|2010 Guangzhou]]|[[Kabaddi at the 2010 Asian Games|Team]]}}
{{Medal|Gold|[[2014 Asian Games|2014 Incheon]]|[[Kabaddi at the 2014 Asian Games|Team]]}}
{{Medal|Competition|[[Kabaddi World Cup (International Kabaddi Federation)|Kabaddi World Cup]]}}
{{Medal|Winner|[[2016 Kabaddi World Cup (Standard style)|2016 Kabaddi World Cup]]|}}
{{Medal|Competition|[[2018 Dubai Kabaddi Masters]]}}
{{Medal|Winner|[[2018 Dubai Kabaddi Masters|2018 Dubai]]|[[India national kabaddi Team|Team]]}}
| show-medals = yes
}}

'''Manjeet Chhillar''' (born 18 August 1986) is an Indian former professional [[kabaddi]] player who currently serves as the assistant coach of the Telugu Titans.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Hyderabad setting Thames on fire |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/hyderabad/2022/sep/08/hyderabad-setting-thames-on-fire-2495957.html |access-date=2022-10-26 |website=The New Indian Express|date=8 September 2022 }}</ref> He is widely regarded as one of the greatest kabaddi players of all time. During his professional career, he played for the [[India national kabaddi team|Indian national team]] and won a gold medal at the [[2014 Asian Games]] and [[Asian Indoor Games|2014 Asian Indoor Games]] in [[Incheon]].<ref name=Sportskeedaprofile/> He also played for teams in the [[Pro Kabaddi League]] including the [[Bengaluru Bulls]], [[Puneri Paltan]], [[Jaipur Pink Panthers]], [[Tamil Thalaivas]], and [[Dabang Delhi]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Thatte |first=Mamta |date=2018-11-05 |title=Manjeet Chillar Biography: From an Accidental Career to a Tougher, Better Athlete Proving his Mettle in Kabaddi |url=https://www.kreedon.com/manjeet-chillar-biography/ |access-date=2022-10-26 |website= KreedOn }}</ref> The [[Government of India]] conferred the [[Arjuna Award]] on him for his achievements in sports.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/sports/sport-others/state-of-sports-affairs-after-domicile-row-haryana-now-has-digital-registry-of-its-athletes/|title=State of sports affairs: After domicile row, Haryana now has digital registry of its athletes|date=2016-02-13|work=The Indian Express|access-date=2017-06-11}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://m.indiablooms.com/video-details/S/27650/getting-arjuna-award-is-like-a-dream-chillar-to-nnis.html|title=GETTING ARJUNA AWARD IS LIKE A DREAM- CHILLAR TO NNIS|work=Indiablooms.com|access-date=2017-06-11|archive-date=11 November 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231111002413/https://www.m.indiablooms.com/video-details/S/27650/getting-arjuna-award-is-like-a-dream-chillar-to-nnis.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> In an exclusive chat with NNIS Sports, Chhillar termed it a 'dream' to receive the prestigious award. He was also a member of the state team of [[Haryana]] and is on top of Pro Kabaddi’s all-time leaderboards for tackle points (391), successful tackles (374) and High 5s (25).<ref name="Manjeet Chillar PKL profile">{{cite web |title=manjeet-chhillar-playerprofile |url=https://www.prokabaddi.com/players/69-manjeet-chhillar-playerprofile |website=prokabaddi |accessdate=27 June 2019 |ref=7 |archive-date=27 June 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190627130232/https://www.prokabaddi.com/players/69-manjeet-chhillar-playerprofile |url-status=dead }}</ref>

== Early life ==
He was born in Nizampur village in [[West Delhi]] near Ghevra metro station. Manjeet Chhillar was initially a [[wrestler]], but an injury to his nose saw him return to his village where he started playing Kabaddi.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news|url=https://m.sportskeeda.com/kabaddi/star-sports-pro-kabaddi-10-things-know-about-manjeet-chhillar|title=10 things to know about Manjeet Chhillar|access-date=2017-06-26}}</ref> Manjeet was first seen in professional Kabaddi in the 2010 Asian Games in China.<ref name=:1/>

== Pro Kabaddi League ==
=== Season 1 ===

He was the captain of [[Bengaluru Bulls]] in the first season of VIVO Pro Kabaddi and won them a grand total of 51 tackle points – the highest by any defender – to emerge as the Star Sports Defender of the Tournament. Manjeet’s versatility meant that he also picked up 71 raid points<ref name="pkl stats">{{cite web |title=stats |url=https://www.prokabaddi.com/stats |website=prokabaddi |accessdate=27 June 2019 |ref=8}}</ref> and helped the Bulls reach the semi-finals.<ref name="Manjeet Chillar PKL profile" />

=== Season 2 ===

Manjeet was adjudged Most Valuable Player (MVP) in Season 2 for his all-round performance. He picked up 40 tackle points and 67 raid points<ref name="pkl stats"/> as Bengaluru Bulls finished as runners-up. Like the first season, Manjeet contributed heavily in attack for Bengaluru. Having said that, his defensive displays were top class as well and justifies him being MVP in Season 2.<ref name="Manjeet Chillar PKL profile" />

=== Season 3 ===

He moved to [[Puneri Paltan]] ahead of the third season and was made captain. His performance levels though didn’t drop as he scored 61 tackle points and 45 raid points<ref name="pkl stats"/> while leading Pune to a third-placed finish in what was their best season.<ref name="Manjeet Chillar PKL profile" />

=== Season 4 ===

The fourth edition of Pro Kabaddi saw both Manjeet and Pune fail to better their performance from the previous campaign. He scored only 44 tackle points<ref name="pkl stats"/> and 24 raid points as Pune narrowly missed out on the playoffs.<ref name="Manjeet Chillar PKL profile" />

=== Season 5 ===

In Season 5, Manjeet joined [[Jaipur Pink Panthers]] and was made captain again. However, he could manage just 5 raid points and 47 tackle points<ref name="pkl stats"/> as the Panthers endured a difficult campaign that saw Manjeet nurse an injury for a long duration.

=== Season 6 ===

In Season 6, he moved to [[Tamil Thalaivas]] after the Tamil Nadu based franchise picked him. Manjeet became a leader in defence for the Thalaivas and scored 59 tackle points<ref name="pkl stats"/> as well as 8 raid points.<ref name="Manjeet Chillar PKL profile" />

=== Season 7 ===
In season 7, Manjeet continued at Tamil Thalaivas, scoring 37 tackle points and 4 raid points.

=== Season 8 ===
Manjeet was bought by [[Dabang Delhi]] in the auction for Rs 20 lakh and helped the team win its maiden title. In season 8, he scored 52 tackle points from 24 games.

At the end of the season, he retired and became the assistant coach of [[Telugu Titans]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Chhabria |first=Vinay |title=Pro Kabaddi 2022: 5 superstar players who will miss a PKL season for 1st time ever |url=https://www.sportskeeda.com/kabaddi/pro-kabaddi-2022-5-superstar-players-will-miss-pkl-season-1st-time-ever |access-date=2022-10-26 |website=www.sportskeeda.com |date=12 September 2022 }}</ref>

== International ==
Manjeet is a gold medalist in the National Championships in 2010, 2011 and 2012. He has also won gold at the [[2009 Asian Indoor Games]] and the [[2010 Asian Games]]. Manjeet claimed bronze at the [[2012 Asian Beach Games]].

==Records and achievements==

* Most Valuable Player (2015) in the [[Pro Kabaddi League|PKL]]
* Gold at [[2010 Asian Games]] in [[Guangzhou]]
* Gold at [[2014 Asian Games]] in [[Incheon]]
* 2016 Kabaddi World Cup winner
* 2018 Dubai Kabaddi Masters winner
* [[Arjuna Award]] winner (2015)<ref name=Sportskeedaprofile/>

== References ==
{{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Chhillar, Manjeet}}
[[Category:Indian male kabaddi players]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Delhi]]
[[Category:Pro Kabaddi League players]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Arjuna Award]]
[[Category:Asian Games gold medalists for India]]
[[Category:Asian Games kabaddi players for India]]
[[Category:Asian Games gold medalists in kabaddi]]
[[Category:Kabaddi players at the 2010 Asian Games]]
[[Category:Kabaddi players at the 2014 Asian Games]]
[[Category:1986 births]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 2010 Asian Games]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 2014 Asian Games]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian sportsmen]]

Manjeet Chhillar - Revision history

Showbiz sportlight at 12:07, 24 April 2026