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Delhi Dynamos signs up Wim Raymaekers
MUMBAI: Delhi Dynamos FC, the national capital’s football team for the Hero Indian Super League, announced inclusion of 29 year old central defender Wim Raymaekers in the squad today. With the induction of the left footed Belgian, Delhi Dynamos has further beefed up its squad for the inaugural edition of the tournament.
Commenting on his induction in the Delhi club, Raymaekers said, “I am very excited and motivated to join Delhi Dynamos and I will do my very best to have an amazing experience in India.”
On Raymaekers joining the unit, Delhi Dynamos FC coach Harm van Veldhoven said, “Wim is a cool customer and is pretty adept at handling pressure when defending. While Delhi Dynamos hopes to play attacking football, having a compact defence is equally important and Wim’s entry will definitely bolster us in that area.”
Raymaekers carries with him an experience of over 200 games at the top level in Belgium and Holland. The defender began his career in the youth ranks of top Belgian club, Genk where he honed his skills. Raymaekers left Genk in 2005 to join Dutch second division side Den Bosch, where he played for two seasons, before moving back to Belgium and signing with second division team Lommel United. He shifted to RS Waasland from the same division in 2009.
OH Leuven signed Raymaekers from Waasland in 2010. A key player in the Leuven side that achieved promotion to the Belgian Pro League in 2010-11, Raymaekers quickly became a fan favourite at the club. Raymaekers is known for his resolute defending, passing skills and prowess in the air.
Delhi Dynamos FC already has two experienced international strikers in Mads Junker and Morten Skoubo. The club is in the process of getting more quality players on board to build a formidable team ahead of the tournament, which kick-starts in October this year. With an experienced coach in Harm, and alliance with Dutch powerhouse Feyenoord Rotterdam, Delhi Dynamos is working towards its mission of building football into a leading sport across Delhi and Northern India.
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.
