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First-ever women’s premier league player auction on Viacom18 sports
Mumbai :Viacom18 Sports announced their coverage plans for the first-ever Women’s Premier League Players auction, which will take place on 13 February . Lydia Greenway, a veteran in women’s cricket, and Indian cricketer Veda Krishnamurthy will join Aakash Chopra and Abhinav Mukund on Viacom18’s expert panel to provide fans with thorough and in-depth coverage of the auction on Sports18 1 SD & HD and JioCinema.
Fans can watch exclusive interviews of India’s top cricketers, including Harmanpreet Kaur, Smriti Mandhana, Deepti Sharma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Harleen Deol and U19 Women’s World Cup champion Richa Ghosh on JioCinema.
On JioCinema and Sports18 1 SD & HD, there will be programming leading up to the first WPL Auction, including a preview show on 12 February that provided fans with information on the structure, regulations, team updates, and players to keep an eye on.
The pre-show in English and Hindi, which will introduce viewers and fans to the most sought-after athletes and feature interviews with players, franchisees and coaches, will begin at 1:30 PM before the live coverage of the auction.
After the sale is over, the expert panel will review the results on JioCinema and Sports18 1 SD & HD. The auction will start at 2:30 PM.
Viacom18 sports content head Siddharth Sharma said, “The Women’s Premier League Player Auction 2023 will give everyone a peek into the new heroes and icons India and the world can celebrate,”
He added, “The WPL will be fresh, fun, and has all the makings to become the world’s biggest women’s sporting property. Our offerings around the WPL are designed to match the league’s potential and serve viewers a world-class presentation.”
The first Women’s Premier League Player Auction will feature 409 cricket players in total. This consists of 246 Indians and 163 foreign players, eight of whom are from partner countries. With the five teams, there are a total of 90 slots available, 30 of which are designated for international players.
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.
