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Coca-cola bowls a green over with Maidaan Saaf at Women’s World Cup
MUMBAI: Forget sixes and stumpings, this World Cup is also about sweeping. As the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 kicks off in India, Coca-cola India, in partnership with the International Cricket Council (ICC), has launched its Maidaan Saaf campaign, turning stadiums into test cases for sustainability between 30 September and 2 November.
The idea is simple but striking: fold responsible waste management into the very fabric of the fan experience. That means volunteers guiding spectators on segregation, safai saathis and waste workers working shoulder to shoulder with stadium staff, and installations crafted from recycled plastic that double as Instagrammable art. Even the giant national flags unfurled during anthem ceremonies have been stitched from recycled PET bottles (rPET), a reminder that waste can wave as a symbol of pride.
Coca-cola vice president of public affairs communications and sustainability for India & South West Asia Devyani Rana said, “Cricket connects millions of people, and through Maidaan Saaf we want to ensure these shared moments of joy also leave a positive impact. Our work with ICC and grassroots partners demonstrates that major sporting events can inspire communities to recycle more and waste less, while still delivering an unforgettable fan experience.”
The ICC is equally invested in making sustainability part of cricket’s playbook. ICC chief commercial officer Anurag Dahiya added, “Cricket has the power to inspire positive change well beyond the boundary. Through this partnership with Coca-cola India, we are embedding sustainability into the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025. Fans will see how simple actions like segregating waste or celebrating recycled creations can make our sport more inclusive and responsible.”
The campaign builds on Coca-cola India’s earlier innings: at the ICC Men’s World Cup 2023, the company ran one of the largest-ever waste management programmes at a sporting event in India. The Rpet flag from that tournament entered the Limca Book of Records 2025, cementing its place in sustainability’s hall of fame.
With Maidaan Saaf, Coca-cola India is doubling down on its commitment to circularity. Working with NGOs, recyclers and local authorities, the initiative aims to show that cricket can be more than a spectacle, it can be a platform for greener habits.
So as fans cheer boundaries and wickets this season, they’ll also be part of a quieter but equally important game: proving that stadiums can be as clean as they are loud.
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.
