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ABI Health shook hands with WPBL to champion fitness
MUMBAI: When healthcare meets pickleball, the game gets serious. ABI Health has announced its partnership with the World Pickleball League (WPBL). This collaboration unites ABI’s mission to revolutionise wellness with WPBL’s drive to make pickleball a national movement. Together, they’re proving that fitness, fun, and community are a match made in heaven.
Pickleball is more than just the fastest-growing sport globally—it’s an embodiment of inclusivity, low injury risks, and intergenerational fun. Recognising this, ABI Health sees pickleball as a perfect vehicle to inspire healthier lifestyles and strengthen community ties.
ABI Health vice president global, Shreyas highlighted the significance of this partnership, “At ABI Health, we believe that health, wellness and prevention need to be part of everyone’s lifestyle in today’s day and age. Fitness and an active lifestyle are integral to a healthier tomorrow, and pickleball is the perfect embodiment of this ethos. We are thrilled to support WPBL in their mission to make this sport a movement that inspires people to stay fit. This partnership reflects our dedication to building a healthier, more connected world.”
WPBL brings together six dynamic teams from Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Pune, Chennai, and Hyderabad to compete at Brabourne Stadium, creating a platform that celebrates not just pickleball but also teamwork, fitness, and community spirit.
WPBL co-founder & CEO, Gaurav Natekar expressed excitement for the collaboration, “We welcome ABI Health as a partner in this journey to elevate pickleball in India. ABI’s passion for promoting health and wellness aligns perfectly with our mission to make pickleball a sport for everyone. Together, we hope to create a platform that celebrates fitness, teamwork, and community spirit.”
This partnership goes beyond the court. It’s a movement to build healthier lives, foster connections, and redefine what fitness looks like in today’s world. Pickleball is no longer just a sport; it’s a lifestyle.
Catch the action as WPBL brings pickleball fever to India while ABI Health ensures the fitness revolution hits its stride.
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.
