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Country’s top special athletes in reckoning for first Radiant Differently Abled Sports Awards
Mumbai: The country’s top special athletes, including the likes of golfer Diksha Dagar (hearing impaired), para-shooter Avani Lekhara, para-archer Sheetal Devi, para-athlete Simran Vats and para-table-tennis player Bhavina Patel among women, and para-badminton star Pramod Bhagat, “Gunga Pehelwan” Virender Singh, para-shooter Manish Narwal, para-javelin thrower Sundar Singh Gurjar, and para-cricketer Amir Hussain Lone among men, are in the running for the first Radiant Differently Abled Sports Awards, scheduled at the Siri Fort Auditorium in the national capital on 23 December 2023. The nominations in 23 award categories were announced ahead of D-Day and a total of 250 special athletes have received nominations.
The first Radiant Differently Abled Sports Awards (RDASA) will be the first in the country exclusively for Differently Abled athletes and is aimed at celebrating the outstanding achievements of the differently abled sports community annually. It was recently hailed by the Head of World Para Athletics, Paul Fitzgerald, who lauded Radiant Sports for their commitment to promote inclusivity on a global scale.
An eminent jury comprising Olympic bronze-winning wrestler Yogeshwar Dutt, National Para Athletics coach Satyanarayana, Rupinder Singh, Mukesh Tyagi, and Bhausaheb Wagchure has been set in place to adjudicate the awards. The RDASA will also be broadcast live on Doordarshan.
Speaking about the upcoming event, Radiant Sports Management co-founder and president Raadhika Khetarpal said, “It is immensely gratifying to organize such an event which will help in the development of our special athletes. It is our mission to inspire everyone in the country by celebrating and honouring our differently-abled heroes and their heroics. A whole year of hard work by a supremely committed team has gone behind these awards and I am extremely humbled at leading the initiative. We are also very grateful for the support received by such legends as Shri Ashok Dhyanchand who has allowed the use of the legendary Dhyanchand name for one of our top awards. I look forward to an afternoon of glory for a community who deserve every bit of the spotlight.”
Beyond the best female and male athlete awards, the RDASA will be recognising top coaches, academies, the most stylish athlete, social media star, teams and there is also an award for the Best Sports Fan, so important in the development of Differently Abled Sports and sportspersons.
In the running for the Dhyanchand Team of the Year will be the Indian para-shooting team, the women’s blind cricket team, the deaf Indian wrestling team and the AISCD Badminton team among others.
As many as 21 Differently Abled sports federations have sent in their nominations for the first RDASA. “It was no easy task getting so many federations on board and that is something we are also extremely proud of,” signed off Raadhika.
Itinerary: 1st Radiant Differently Abled Sports Awards
Day 1: Radiant Sports Conclave (Venue: Garden of Five Senses, Saket. Time: 3 pm-5 pm)
Day 2: Radiant Differently Abled Sports Awards (Venue: Siri Fort Auditorium. Time: 12 pm -3 pm)
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.
