News Headline
Skyesports Championship 5.0: BGMI finals in Bangalore with Rs 1.25 CR prize pool!
Mumbai: Enhancing the excitement for one of the country’s biggest Esports tournaments, Skyesports, the Esports tournament organiser, has announced that the tickets for Skyesports Championship 5.0 – BGMI Finale are now available for free on BookMyShow.
The electrifying LAN final will be open to a live audience and will witness the nation’s top 16 BGMI teams battling it out for the title of champions and a share of the Rs 1,25,00,000 prize pool at the Koramangala Indoor Stadium, Bengaluru from November 3 to 5. Tickets are currently open for the BGMI Esports extravaganza for free on BookMyShow on a first-come, first-serve basis.
The Skyesports Championship 5.0 is Powered By AMD. Loco, the world’s leading independent gaming and Esports streaming platform, is the broadcast partner for the event, while Zebronics is the gaming partner. Tecno POVA Five Series is the smartphone partner.
Commenting on the finals of the Skyesports Championship 5.0 BGMI, Skyesports founder and CEO Shiva Nandy said, “We are excited to announce that the tickets for the BGMI Finale for Skyesports Championship 5.0 happening at Koramangala Indoor Stadium in Bengaluru are now live on BookMyShow. The fact that more than 3,000 teams signed up for the open qualifiers shows the power of highlighting a direct #PathtoPro for esports athletes from the grassroots. We are all set for one of the biggest Esports events of the year, and it’s even better because we’re welcoming a live audience to witness the action in person. This event reflects our commitment to growing Esports and recognizing the amazing talent in the gaming community.”
Being India’s longest-running homegrown Esports IP, the Skyesports Championship is in its fifth year and has become larger than ever. The total prize pool for the tournament stands at a staggering Rs 2,12,00,000 split between three Esports titles, one of which is BGMI.
For BGMI, Skyesports held open-for-all qualifiers which saw more than 3,000 teams from across the country sign up. From here, the teams competed across a series of rounds providing a #PathtoPro to the BGMI LAN Finale at the Koramangala Indoor Stadium, Bangalore.
Data from Interpret’s New Media Measure: Global Profiles shows that growth in the Indian Esports market over the past couple of years has led to India surpassing Brazil, South Korea, and other nations as an Esports superpower. Around 28% of the general population in India watches professional Esports, whether on TV or via online streaming, second only to China’s 36%. This is more than Western countries such as the US and UK which are exhibiting less interest in Esports, with 16% and 14%, respectively, of the population watching.
For the fans who are unable to attend the event live, the Skyesports Championship 5.0 BGMI Finale will be live-streamed in English, Hindi, and Tamil exclusively on Loco.
Awards
Hamdard honours changemakers at Abdul Hameed awards
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.








