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AXN’s Xtreme: India-Pak Challenge kicks off 21 Aug
MUMBAI: AXN has announced that its biggest ground event of the year AXN Xtreme: India vs. Pak Challenge kicks off on 21 August with a series of qualifying events.
As reported earlier by indiantelevision.com, the challenge requires teams to prevail over extreme situations, conditions and overcome extreme challenges. Competitors will face off in a series of challenges that may be held both indoor and outdoor.
AXN Xtreme: India vs. Pakistan will include a multitude of elements, including popular sports, and man’s most common and dreaded fears – – – think Fear Factor. And, after going through physical and mental hell, he/she is also expected to be a presentable and camera-friendly team person.
The city-wise elimination rounds will begin with Mumbai at St Xavier’s Parel East Football Ground on 21 August. The New Delhi edition will be held at Polo Grounds Delhi University on 22 August. On the same day, AXN’s crew will visit Kolkata at Nalban Boating Complex. The search will then travel to Bangalore to St John’s Medical College Grounds on 28 August and culminate in Karachi on 29 August.
One winner from each city in India will make it to the final team, whereas, all four finalists from Pakistan will be selected from Karachi itself. Selected finalists will then face off in a series of challenges in Taiwan. The original production would be subsequently broadcast Asia-wide, on AXN, in the final quarter of the year.
What is unique is that the challenges are revealed to the participants only on the event day. The aim is to retain the element of surprise, to stimulate creativity given the limitations and, most importantly, to have a level-playing field.
The finale in Taiwan will comprise three stages. The first stage would be the basic physical challenge. Contestants will perform simple but physically demanding rigours. The participants possessing the greatest physical prowess will proceed to the next stage. This will involve a multi-discipline high impact challenge where contestants will be tested under various more complex tests and conditions.
Over a gruelling five-hour period, the short-listed participants will be subject to various rigours to check their range and versatility – from fear of heights to keeping cool under pressure. The third and final stage will test mental agility and screen friendliness. This involves tests by psychoanalysts as well as screen tests that will decide how camera-friendly a contestant is.
Whether rain, burning heat or hail, short-listed participants are expected to spend the entire day facing the elements, whatever the conditions. Hence, the event will not only pit man against man, but also man against nature. The final winner would be selected on the basis of his/her performance in all three stages and would be announced on the day itself.
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.
