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Akshay Kumar to perform at Wave World Kabaddi League
MUMBAI: The action king of Bollywood, Akshay Kumar, is set to take the entertainment quotient a notch higher with his dazzling performance on the inaugural day of the Wave World Kabaddi League (WWKL) at London.
Kumar will dance on popular title tracks of his recent movies as part of the inaugural program planned to kick start the matches of WWKL. A known sports enthusiast, Kumar has been closely associated with sports and is also the co-owner of Khalsa Warrior.
“I am quite excited about WWKL. My performance will be dedicated to all the Kabaddi fans who come together to cheer the teams. The League is a step to promote the Indian contemporary sport and bring it closer to the fans of the sport spread across the world,” Kumar said in a statement today.
Top players from across the world will be participating in the League which will commence from the O2 Arena. With a capacity of over 20,000 seats, O2 will surely see some high performance trailblazing entertainment in the form of dance and sport. “The dedication being shown by Akshay to promote Wave World Kabaddi League is commendable. As a true supporter he is making himself available to us despite his busy schedule to promote Kabaddi,” said Wave World Kabaddi League commissioner Pargat Singh.
WWKL is the first international Kabaddi league coming out of India and is scheduled to roll out from August in a high profile event at London.
It is the first Indian sports league with an international footprint and a four month long calendar. Played in circle style, WWKL will see eight teams fight for the win as the League travels across three continents.
Additionally, Khalsa Warriors co-owner Gurdeep Singh said, “It gives me immense pleasure to have an A-list actor like Akshay to be a co-team owner. His movies are eagerly watched internationally and am sure he can make Kabaddi look cool as a sport to play and follow. He has some very innovative winning strategies up his sleeve that he continues to share with me and my players. We will play to win and I am sure the fans will enjoy it thoroughly.”
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.
