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Cricket’s ruling body wants women to hack the future of sports technology
DUBAI: Cricket’s mandarins have never been mistaken for tech visionaries. But the International Cricket Council is taking a punt on innovation with Beyond Boundaries, a worldwide hackathon that demands every competing team include at least one woman—and promises cold, hard cash to the best all-female squad.
The challenge, powered by Ignyte, a Dubai-based start-up accelerator, runs through 2025–2026 and invites students, start-ups and scale-ups to reimagine sport in the age of artificial intelligence. Though anchored in cricket, the hackathon welcomes ideas spanning any sport. The grand finale arrives in January 2026, when the most promising teams will pitch their wares on an international stage.
Winners will pocket prize money, gain access to mentors and industry heavyweights, and—crucially—get pilot opportunities with the ICC and its partners to test their solutions in real sporting arenas. That is no small carrot for ambitious founders looking to crack a multi-billion-dollar industry.
The competition zeroes in on three areas. First, boosting visibility and engagement for women’s sports through digital platforms and AI-driven fan models. Second, crafting next-generation experiences for younger audiences with interactive, personalised tech. Third, improving athlete health, performance and inclusivity using wearables, machine learning and smart analytics.
Applications close on 19 December 2025. The ICC’s bet is simple: get more women into sports tech, and everyone wins. In a sector long dominated by blokes, that would count as boundary-breaking indeed.
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.
