Ajay Thakur is a well known Indian international associated with which sport?

Introduction / Context:
This question tests knowledge of Indian sportspersons outside cricket. Ajay Thakur is a famous Indian player who became widely known through the Asian Games and the Pro Kabaddi League. Identifying his main sport helps expand general awareness of Indias success in traditional and contact sports.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The person named is Ajay Thakur.
• We must choose the sport with which he is associated.
• Options list hockey, cricket, swimming and kabaddi.
• Only one of these matches his actual professional field.

Concept / Approach:
Ajay Thakur is best known as a star raider in kabaddi. He has played for India in international tournaments and has also captained the national team. His performances in the Pro Kabaddi League and international events made him one of the most recognisable faces of the sport. The correct approach is to recall him as a kabaddi raider rather than as a player in hockey, cricket or swimming.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall where you have seen or heard the name Ajay Thakur in sports news.Step 2: Remember that he played a key role in India kabaddi victories, including the Asian Games and world events, and was often highlighted for his raiding skills.Step 3: Compare this with the options. Hockey and cricket produce many famous Indian players, but Ajay Thakur is not part of their national squads.Step 4: Swimming is an individual aquatic sport with its own set of known Indian names, again not matching Ajay Thakur.Step 5: Kabaddi fits all the clues, so the correct option is kabaddi.

Verification / Alternative check:
To verify, recall that Ajay Thakur captained India in some kabaddi tournaments and was honoured for his contributions to the sport. Pro Kabaddi League coverage repeatedly described him as a star raider. No such descriptions exist in cricket, hockey or swimming contexts for this name. This consistent association with kabaddi confirms the answer.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option A, hockey, is incorrect because Ajay Thakur is not listed among Indian hockey internationals. Option B, cricket, is wrong as he is not part of Indias cricket teams. Option C, swimming, again does not match his profile. These options are included because they are popular sports in India and may attract a guess, but they do not reflect the correct sport for Ajay Thakur.

Common Pitfalls:
Some learners may not follow kabaddi closely and therefore not immediately recognise him, which can lead to random guessing. Others might confuse names across sports, assuming that any well known sportsman name belongs to cricket by default. To avoid such errors, it helps to list key kabaddi figures separately and remember Ajay Thakur specifically as a champion raider and captain.

Final Answer:
Ajay Thakur is associated with the sport of kabaddi.