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Kabaddi clocks in big allies as KCL builds muscle before debut season
MUMBAI: Kabaddi is stretching beyond the mat, and its new league is flexing serious commercial muscle. The Kabaddi Champions League (KCL) has bolstered its partner roster ahead of its inaugural season, signing up Vel Sports Management as strategic partner, Nirvada as official Ayurvedic partner, and Ghadi Detergent as strategic time-out partner.
Headlining the latest signings is Vel Sports Management, owned by Olympic gold medallist Neeraj Chopra. The partnership brings with it elite sporting pedigree and global credibility, dovetailing with KCL’s ambition to build a professional, performance-led ecosystem for kabaddi players. The association signals a shared focus on athlete development, structured competition and a high-performance mindset.
Player welfare is also firmly on the agenda. Nirvada’s appointment as official Ayurvedic partner underscores the league’s belief in holistic fitness, a natural fit for a sport that demands strength, stamina and mental toughness in equal measure. By leaning into Ayurveda, KCL is positioning recovery and balance as essential components of elite kabaddi.
On the fan engagement front, Ghadi Detergent steps in as strategic time-out partner. A familiar name in Indian households, the brand’s integration into match broadcasts and on-ground activations adds mass appeal and keeps the league closely connected to its core audience.
Adding further weight to the build-up, Skymarx India has already been confirmed as the title sponsor, setting the tone for a commercially confident launch.
With partners spanning sport, wellness and consumer brands, the Kabaddi Champions League is shaping up as a blend of tradition and ambition rooted in the spirit of the game, but geared firmly for the future.
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.
