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Vivo PKL 8 ropes in Dhani app as strategic timeout partner
Mumbai: Vivo Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) season 8 has roped in Dhani app as its strategic timeout partner in collaboration with Professional Management Group (PMG) and Madison Media Ace.
The association will provide Dhani with differentiated visibility during the Live matches of PKL. Strategic timeout is taken twice, at the 10th and 15th minute of the game’s second half. Dhani has further strengthened its on-ground association with Vivo PKL 8 through inventory buys on TV as well as Hotstar.
The 90-second ‘strategic timeout’ fits in seamlessly with Dhani’s proposition of providing the OneFreedom Card to customers in less than two minutes, said the brand in a statement.
“Getting to be a part of a homegrown sport that brings the entire country together is truly exciting for us at Dhani,” Dhani CMO Ankit Banga remarked. “Since a majority of our customers also stem from the heartland and other smaller pockets of India, we believe it is a great fit for us. Also, it resonates fantastically with our product proposition of giving our customers a timeout from making full payments by splitting their transaction into three interest-free parts.”
“Dhani – OneFreedom Card is the first kind of a product and needed a unique way to drive benefits of the product beyond standard inventory buys,” stated Madison Media Ace COO Vandana Ramkrishna. “We leveraged PMG’s expertise to get the STO created for the first time ever on Kabaddi for Dhani to help bring out the brand benefits seamlessly. Kabaddi as a sport, has significant unique viewers and driving visibility through both on-air and on-ground will not only help Dhani garner incremental audiences, but would also drive significant business results.”
“Both Vivo PKL and Dhani are only growing bigger and better in terms of stature and popularity. We have no doubt that the relationship between these two institutions will go the same way in the weeks and months to come,” said Professional Management Group COO Melroy D’Souza.
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.
