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Kings XI Punjab signs MOU with LA Trobe University, Australia
MUMBAI: With the intent to giving a boost to sports management and sciences, Kings XI Punjab and LA Trobe University, Australia, today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the IPL season 8. The research MOU has been signed to facilitate work on joint programmes, activities, projects and research on training and education in the domain of sport management and science.
As a part of this association, Kings XI Punjab will be inducting 10 interns who will be actively involved with the team for IPL season 8. The interns will undertake research projects on Indian cricket / the sports industry with the aim to identify challenges as well as suggest solutions. The franchise will be able to deploy some of these suggestions to improve its operations.
Kings XI Punjab COO Fraser Castellino commented, “We are excited at this association with LA Trobe University. This is a first of its kind for us and we are glad to offer students a platform to interact with professionals and equally look forward to inputs from trained professors and students from a reputed institute. This partnership is our sincere effort to broaden the scope of students in the field of sports management and we hope that this will contribute towards their learning and development process.”
La Trobe University faculty of business Economics and Law executive dean professor Leigh Drake said, “It is La Trobe University’s constant endeavor to keep creating improved opportunities for students of both the countries which has brought us back to India again this year.”
Talking about the MOU he further added, “Under the New MOU with Kings XI Punjab, we will be undertaking research into mutually agreed topics such as fan engagement, digital marketing and promotional practices, and other areas of value for the Kings XI Punjab.”
He stated, “We are equally excited about this association with Kings XI Punjab. This partnership will give our students an opportunity to participate as interns for Kings XI Punjab in the world most exciting sports event IPL. It will be a great learning experience for our students. They can enhance their understanding of sports management.”
He also mentioned that one of the common things between India and Australia is their love for sports and there is huge interest in cricket in both countries.
NEW DELHI: Hamdard Laboratories gathered a cross-section of India’s achievers in New Delhi on Friday, handing out the Hakeem Abdul Hameed Excellence Awards to figures who have left their mark across healthcare, education, sport, public service and the arts.
The ceremony, attended by minister of state for defence Sanjay Seth and senior officials from the ministry of Ayush, celebrated individuals whose work blends professional success with a sense of public purpose. It was as much a roll call of achievement as it was a reminder that influence is not measured only in profits or podiums, but in people reached and lives improved.
Among the headline awardees was Alakh Pandey, founder and chief executive of PhysicsWallah, recognised for turning affordable digital learning into a mass movement. On the sporting front, Arjuna Awardee and kabaddi player Sakshi Puniya was honoured for her contribution to the game and for pushing women’s participation onto bigger stages.
The cultural spotlight fell on veteran lyricist and poet Santosh Anand, whose songs have echoed across generations of Hindi cinema. At 97, Anand accepted the honour with characteristic humility, reflecting on a life shaped by perseverance and hope.
Healthcare honours spanned both modern and traditional systems. Manoj N. Nesari was recognised for strengthening Ayurveda’s place in national and global health frameworks. Padma shri Mohammed Abdul Waheed was honoured for his research-backed work in Unani medicine, while padma shri Mohsin Wali received recognition for his long-standing contribution to patient-centred care.
Education and social development also featured prominently. Padma shri Zahir Ishaq Kazi was honoured for decades of work in education, while former Meghalaya superintendent of Police T. C. Chacko was recognised for public service. Goonj founder Anshu Gupta received an award for his dignity-centred rural development initiatives, and the Hunar Shakti Foundation was honoured for empowering women and young girls through skill development.
The Lifetime Achievement Award went to former IAS officer Shailaja Chandra for her long career in public healthcare and governance, particularly in the traditional systems under Ayush.
Speaking at the event, Hamdard chairman Abdul Majeed said the awards were a tribute to those who combine excellence with empathy. “These awardees reflect Hakeem Sahib’s belief that healthcare, education and public service must ultimately serve humanity,” he said.
Minister Seth struck a forward-looking note, saying India’s young population gives the country a unique opportunity to become a global destination for learning, health and wellness by 2047.
The ceremony also featured the trailer launch of Unani Ki Kahaani, an upcoming documentary starring actor Jim Sarbh, set to premiere on Discovery on 11 February.
Instituted in memory of Unani scholar and educationist Hakeem Abdul Hameed, the awards have grown into a national platform that celebrates those building a more inclusive and resilient India. For one evening at least, the spotlight was not just on success, but on service with substance.
