Rahul Sethpal Biography: Early Life, Domestic Career, PKL Achievements, Social Media and More

Rahul Sethpal is an Indian professional kabaddi player who plays as a right-corner defender. Born in Bapauli village in Haryana’s Panipat district, he started playing kabaddi at a young age and slowly built his career through junior tournaments, national competitions and the Pro Kabaddi League (PKL). By September 2026, Rahul had reached another major stage of his career after representing India at the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.

The year 2026 became an important chapter in Rahul Sethpal’s career. He was selected in India’s 12-member men’s kabaddi squad for the Asian Games 2026 and made his Asian Games debut. India remained unbeaten in the competition and defeated Iran 40-34 in the men’s final on September 26, 2026. Rahul also made an important tackle in the closing minutes of the final as India secured the gold medal.

Before his international breakthrough, Rahul had already established himself in the PKL. He began his league career with U Mumba in Season 8 and later joined Haryana Steelers. His best early PKL seasons came in Season 10 and Season 11, when he scored 73 tackle points in each campaign. He also helped Haryana Steelers win their first Pro Kabaddi League title in Season 11.

Early Life & Family

Rahul Sethpal was born on September 20, 2001, in the small village of Bapulia in Panipat district of Haryana. He comes from a middle-class family where education was given high importance. His father wanted him to focus on his studies rather than sports. However, his mother became his biggest supporter and believed that sports could give him good opportunities in life.

Rahul Sethpal’s journey in kabaddi started in a very simple way. He was very young when a tournament was organized in his village. The organizers were giving away jerseys to participants. This attracted young Rahul to join the tournament. “I was very young when I started playing Kabaddi. A tournament was organized in our village, and they were giving away jerseys. So, I decided to play – that’s how my journey in Kabaddi began,” recalls Rahul.

Rahul Sethpal has an elder brother named Sagar Rawal Gujjar, who is also a kabaddi player. The family faced some financial challenges in the early days, but they never gave up on supporting Rahul’s kabaddi dreams.

Domestic Career

Alongside his PKL career, Rahul has represented Services in national-level kabaddi. One of his major domestic achievements came in the 71st Senior National Men’s Kabaddi Championship in Cuttack in February 2025. Services defeated Railways in the final after the match ended 30-30 and then won the tie-breaker 6-4.

Rahul was part of a strong Services team that also included players such as Naveen Kumar, Devank Dalal, Ankit Jaglan and Jaideep Dahiya. Services defeated Punjab in the semi-final and then overcame Railways in the final. Rahul’s experience in national competitions was an important part of his move toward international kabaddi.

His domestic achievements therefore include two Junior National gold medals, the Senior National title with Services and a Pro Kabaddi League title with Haryana Steelers. These competitions gave him experience at different levels before his selection for India in 2026.

Rahul Sethpal’s PKL Career

Rahul Sethpal entered the Pro Kabaddi League with U Mumba in Season 8 in 2021. He played 18 matches and scored 34 tackle points, including five Super Tackles and one High 5. Although it was his first PKL season, it gave him an opportunity to compete against experienced players and improve his game at the professional level.

He continued with U Mumba in Season 9. Rahul played 15 matches and scored 16 tackle points, along with three Super Tackles and one High 5. During this period, he continued to gain experience as a right-corner defender before making a major move ahead of Season 10.

Haryana Steelers bought Rahul Sethpal for ₹40.70 lakh at the Season 10 player auction in 2023. At that time, the official PKL website listed him as the most expensive Indian defender at that auction. This was a major step in his professional career and gave him a bigger role in Haryana’s defence.

Season 10 became a major statistical improvement for Rahul. He scored 73 tackle points in 23 matches, with 15 Super Tackles and seven High 5s. The official PKL statistics show that he was Haryana Steelers’ leading defender that season, while his 15 Super Tackles were the most by any player in the league that campaign.

Rahul Sethpal in PKL Season 11

Rahul continued his strong form in Pro Kabaddi League Season 11. He played 24 matches and scored 73 tackle points. He also recorded seven Super Tackles and four High 5s during the season. His average was 3.04 tackle points per match, according to the official PKL statistics.

Haryana Steelers reached the final and defeated Patna Pirates to win their first PKL championship. Rahul was one of the important defenders in that title-winning team. His partnership with other Haryana defenders helped the side maintain a strong defence throughout the season.

Rahul also produced several strong individual performances during Season 11. For example, he scored eight tackle points against Gujarat Giants in one match and was named Defender of the Day. He also collected four tackle points and another Defender of the Day award against another opponent during the season.

Rahul Sethpal in PKL Season 12

Rahul continued with Haryana Steelers in PKL Season 12 and was given a leadership role as vice-captain, with Jaideep Dahiya serving as captain. The season again saw Rahul play regularly in the right corner for the Steelers.

He finished Season 12 with 19 matches and 47 tackle points. Rahul also recorded four Super Tackles and two High 5s, taking his career total to 99 PKL matches after five seasons. The official season statistics list him among Haryana’s regular defenders.

Rahul Sethpal PKL Career Stats

The season-wise figures are based on the latest available PKL statistics and supporting career databases. The official PKL pages confirm 73 tackle points from 23 matches in Season 10, 73 from 24 matches in Season 11, and 34 career Super Tackles across 99 matches.

Rahul Sethpal’s International Career

Rahul’s international career reached a major stage in 2026 when he was selected in India’s men’s kabaddi squad for the Asian Games 2026. The 12-member squad included Rahul along with Sunil Kumar, Pawan Sehrawat, Arjun Deshwal, Ashu Malik, Devank Dalal, Ayan Lohchab, Jaideep Dahiya, Sumit Sangwan, Gaurav Khatri, Ankit Jaglan and Aslam Inamdar. Rahul was one of eight players in the squad making their Asian Games debut.

The kabaddi competition at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games was held at the Tokai Citizens Gymnasium. India’s men began their campaign against Japan and went on to finish the group stage unbeaten after four wins. Rahul was involved in India’s defence during the competition, including the 37-21 win over Chinese Taipei. In that game, his ankle holds helped India control the opposition raiders.

India then moved through the knockout stage and reached the final against Iran. On September 26, 2026, India defeated Iran 40-34 to win the men’s kabaddi gold medal at the Asian Games. Rahul contributed an important tackle with around three minutes remaining, helping India maintain its seven-point lead at that stage.

With this victory, Rahul Sethpal became an Asian Games gold medallist in his first appearance at the continental event. India finished the men’s kabaddi competition unbeaten, and Rahul’s name became part of the Indian team’s 2026 gold-medal campaign.

Achievements

Rahul Sethpal has achieved several milestones in his kabaddi career:

International Achivements:

• Gold Medal at the Asian Games 2026

Domestic Achievements:

• Gold medal at Junior National Kabaddi Championship (2020)
• Gold medal at Junior National Kabaddi Championship (2021)
• Gold medal at 71st Senior National Kabaddi Championship with Services (2024)

PKL Achievements:

• PKL Season 11 Champion with Haryana Steelers (2024)
• Most Super Tackles in PKL Season 10 (15 tackles)
• Multiple Defender of the Day awards in PKL Season 11
• Vice-captain of Haryana Steelers (PKL Season 12)

Rahul was instrumental in making Haryana Steelers only the second team in PKL history to win their maiden title after reaching the final. “Winning the title was a dream come true. Being from Haryana, it meant so much to us – our team had legends like Surender Nada, yet we had never won the PKL title before,” reflects Rahul on the historic achievement.

Social Media and More

Rahul Sethpal maintains an active presence on social media platforms. His Instagram handle is @rahul_sethpal_7, where he shares updates about his matches, training sessions, and personal life. His bio on Instagram reads: “Athlete, Jersey #7, Professional Kabaddi player, V Captain @haryanasteelers, Session 11 Champion.”

Through his social media, Rahul connects with kabaddi fans and shares insights into his professional journey. He often posts about his training routines, match highlights, and team celebrations. His social media presence helps inspire young kabaddi players who dream of making it big in the sport.

The PKL has completely transformed Rahul’s life. Coming from a middle-class family, he now enjoys a comfortable lifestyle. “Coming from a middle-class family, the things I own now were once just dreams. From staying in luxurious hotels to earning a good income, PKL has given me opportunities beyond imagination. I never even dreamt of this kind of money,” Rahul shares about how the league has changed his life.

Rahul credits his mentor Nitin Rawal for his success. Nitin Rawal, who is also a top PKL defender and Asian Games gold medalist, has supported Rahul both financially and emotionally throughout his journey. “Nitin Rawal has supported me throughout – both financially and emotionally. He helped my brother and me reach where we are today,” Rahul says gratefully.

Rahul Sethpal’s Hobbies and Favourite Players

Kabaddi is a major part of Rahul Sethpal’s life, but he has also said that he enjoys playing and watching cricket. Away from the kabaddi mat, cricket is one of the sports he follows.

Publicly available player-profile information lists Naveen Goyat as one of Rahul’s favourite raiders and Fazel Atrachali as one of his favourite defenders. The double-thigh hold is also listed among his favourite kabaddi moves.

Rahul Sethpal Net Worth

There is no verified public figure available for Rahul Sethpal’s total net worth as of 2026. Several websites publish estimated net-worth figures for sports players, but those numbers are generally not supported by official financial records or statements. Therefore, a fixed net-worth amount should not be treated as confirmed.

Conclusion

The young defender from Panipat has shown that with proper guidance, family support, and personal commitment, any player can rise from humble beginnings to reach the top levels of professional sport. Rahul Sethpal truly represents the spirit of kabaddi and continues to be an inspiration for future generations of players.

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