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Mumbai kids to accompany captains as ‘Toss Ka Boss’ at ICC Champions Trophy
MUMBAI: Beverage major Pepsi, which launched the ‘Toss kA Boss’ contest for the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy some time back, has announced the winners for the same. Two Mumbai residents, six-year-old Afridi Adam Sayed and 14 year old Aamir Mozawala are Pepsi’s ‘Toss kA Boss’ and will accompany the two captains on the field for the toss in two matches in the tournament.
As one of the main global partners of the ICC Champions Trophy, Pepsi initiated the ‘Toss kA Boss’ consumer promotion that will continue up to the ICC Champions Trophy.
Aamir, who is a student of Holy Name High School in the city, said “I just can’t believe it. I have been a cricket fan all my life, and grew up idolising my cricket heroes. I never thought I will ever get an opportunity to walk to the centre of the field with two international cricket captains for the toss, that too in such a mega event as the ICC Champions Trophy. I can’t thank Pepsi enough for the opportunity.”
The Top 15 winners of Pepsi’s ‘Toss kA Boss’ consumer initiative will live their dream and accompany team captains to the pitch for the toss during the matches. Another 50 winners will get an all expense paid trip to watch a Champions Trophy match and one million other winners will be given miniature ‘collector’s item’ like cricket bats signed by players of the eight countries participating in the tournament.
PepsiCo India Holdings Pvt. Ltd. chairman Rajeev Bakshi said, “Brand Pepsi enjoys dominant salience with cricket in the country thanks to its decade-long, innovative association with the game. We are looking forward to another huge opportunity to engage with our consumers during the ICC Champions Trophy. Our return on investment in the game is unprecedented because we have been able to combine the huge media opportunities of the game in terms of viewership as well as engage the consumer through unique promotions. Pepsi’s ‘Toss kA Boss’ adds scale to cricketing excitement and provides Pepsi fans an opportunity to be at the center of an international cricketing event.”
This consumer initiative is being supported by an innovative, high visibility multi-media communications package including TV campaigns, radio spots, on ground activities and Point of Sale merchandise. A special ‘Toss kA Boss’ school contact programme will take the excitement to 425 schools across 14 cities including Delhi, Chandigarh, Ludhiana, Amritsar, Jalandar, Agra, Jaipur, Dehradun, Lucknow, Kanpur, Mumbai and Pune. As part of the programme, six-overs-a-side cricket matches will be played between different teams in each school and the winners will get attractive prizes.
The ‘Toss kA Boss’, television campaign, which is slated for release is true to the irreverent spirit of brand Pepsi.
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.
