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FIH Pro League action returns to India
Mumbai: International hockey action will be back in Odisha as India resumes its FIH Pro League journey. The FIH Pro League commenced last year in October at the Kalinga stadium, but this leg of the league will be played in Rourkela. India, Australia and Germany will play six matches in six days. India will start off the action on 10 March against Germany before taking on Australia on March 12. All games will start at 7:00 PM IST and will be exclusively live streamed on FanCode.
The FIH Pro League is an annual global League involving hockey’s best national teams in the world, men and women. The best team of the season – having accumulated the highest number of points at the end of the League – is crowned Champion and receives the FIH Pro League Trophy.
The Indian team will be captained by Harmanpreet Singh while Hardik Singh has been named as the vice captain.
Hockey fans will be able to watch all the action live on the FanCode’s mobile app (Android, iOS) TV app available on Android TV, Amazon Fire TV Stick, Jio STB, Samsung TV and on www.fancode.com
Full schedule is as below:
March 10, India vs Germany
March 11, Germany vs Australia
March 12, India vs Australia
March 13, India vs Germany
March 14, Germany vs Australia
March 15, India vs Australia
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.
