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IDCA inaugurates 1stT10 Women’s Deaf Premier League 2024 in association with Serum Institute of India, Cyrus Poonawalla Group
Mumbai: The IDCA 1st T 10 Women’s Deaf Premier League 2024, in association with Serum Institute of India, a part of Cyrus Poonawalla Group, wasformally inaugurated in a glittering ceremony by the Chief Guest, Mr. Bhavin Thakkar, former cricketer, and three-times Ranji Trophy winner. Guest of Honor included Mr. Paschim Pathak, well know Umpire, Ms. Shalini Singh, Group Head – Brand & Communications, RPG Group, Mr.Jaswinder Narang, CEO, Villoo Poonawalla Foundation, representing Serum Institute of India, Cyrus Poonawalla Group, principal partner, Mr. Sujeet Jain, Chief Legal & Regulatory Officer, Nykaa.-Patron Partner, Sandeep Kumar, Head CSR-ICIL Ltd. CSR partner, Michael Kotas-Managing Director, John Cockerill India.
The inaugural ceremony was attended by a galaxy of dignitaries from the cricketing & corporate world supporting this maiden Women’s Deaf Premier League, Mr. Prashant Athawale, renowned Commentator; Dr. Chirag Doshi, notablestatisticianand Umpire;and Mr. Dev Dutt, BCCI Certified Coach.
Dedicated to nurturing upcoming sports talent among specially abled youth, Serum Institute of India, a part of Cyrus Poonawalla Group, has joined hands with the Indian Deaf Cricket Association (IDCA) as the Principal Partner. In this role, the group will extend full support to IDCA for the hearing-impaired women’s tournament as they compete in this power-packed Deaf Premier League to win the coveted cup.
Addressing the gathering at the inaugural ceremony, Thakkar said, “It is a proud moment for me to be associated with IDCA T10 Women’s Deaf Premier League. This league provides a platform for specially-abled women to showcase their talent. They have worked really hard towards it, and I am truly glad to be associated with them. I am also thankful to all partners who are supporting this cause, and I look forward to being a part of it for the years to come. This is indeed a proud moment for me, and together by doing our bit, we can make a big impact for specially-abled women. Let’s help them dream and believe that they too can achieve great heights.”
Speaking at the inaugural ceremony, IDCA president Sumit Jain said, “Today is an important tournament as it signals IDCA’s focus on promoting not only world-class cricket but also emphasis on nurturing diversity and inclusion. All our partners share our vision and are committed to helping hearing-impaired cricketing talent and join the ‘DaretoDream’ movement to mainstream these players who have won many accolades for India. This is also a very special tournament as it is the first IDCA T 10 Women’s Deaf Premier league in 2024.”
IDCA CEO Roma Balwani welcoming the chief guest andguest of honour at the inaugural ceremony said, “We are truly honouredby the presence of dignitaries who have come today to celebrate and motivate these hearing-impaired women of substance, who will demonstrate their prowess on the cricket field.Our Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Modiji has been championing the cause of disability sport in a significant way. He has also promoted the universal usage of sign language which will create more awareness and help break barriers for the hearing-impaired members of communities at large”.
IDCAcommented patron Reena Jain Malhotra said, “It was a special moment for us at IDCA to see our women players come together to play the prestigious maiden IDCA T-10 Deaf Premier League in Mumbai. We are very thankful to all our support partners for their belief in the cause of hearing-impaired cricket. We hope to nurture and make it bigger and better in the year to come”.
Indo Count Industries and IDCA’s CSR partner chairman Anil Jain for this tournament in his congratulatory message to the teams said, “The human spirit is always full of ability, perseverance and courage, which helps in removing barriers related to disabilities.When the promotion of sports is in the fray, this spirit achieves even greater significance. We wish the Indian Deaf Women Cricketers all the very best to compete amongst themselves with their best abilities and play the beautiful game of cricket in best of the spirit”.
In support are IDCA’s long term partners, KFC India, Hero Moto Corp, Collearn, Impact Research, Cognito & Kaizzen.
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.
