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Star Sports brings out the fun side of kabaddi players
MUMBAI: As the league stage of VIVO Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) 5 is nearing its end, Star Sports has planned an interactive show with top PKL players this season, all dressed in traditional attire. The show is named as ‘Yeh Diwali, Kabaddi wali’.
The hour long show will air on 19 October at 7:30pm. Viewers can watch Kabaddi stars getting candid and reliving their best moments of Diwali. The show will include rapid fire questions – player picks on Phuljadi player of the league, Dhamakedar player of the league etc., questions on their Diwali celebrations at home and with their teammates.
The players will share their childhood memories of spoiling neighbours’ Rangolis and cracker pranks to dreaming big of celebrating Diwali with their role models and favourite stars.
The show host will be VJ Mantra and the players present in the show will be Rohit Kumar (Bengaluru Bulls), Rahul Chaudhari (Telugu Titans), Pardeep Narwal (Patna Pirates), Deepak Nivas Hooda (Puneri Paltan), Suriner Nada (Haryana Steelers), Rishank Devadiga (UP Yoddha).
PKL 5 is promoting the game with many on-ground activations, which includes, ‘Team Up – Lift the Cup’, the mantra for fans, as they took up the Pull Room Challenge, getting first-hand taste of Le Panga. The challenge involved a replica of the Season 5 trophy placed inside a locked chamber which could only be opened when a team of seven individuals, just like in a team, attempt to unlock it.
Taking place at multiple locations across Mumbai and Bangalore, the activation saw scores of kabaddi enthusiasts trying to strategise and come up with innovative ways to accomplish the seemingly difficult task.
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.
