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Kalyan Jewellers steps in as style partner for RCB Women
Bengaluru: Kalyan Jewellers has struck a style-led partnership with Royal Challengers Bengaluru Women, coming on board as the team’s official style partner as the Women’s T20 league 2026 begins. The association pairs two brands trading on confidence and modern Indian identity. Kalyan Jewellers will work with RCB Women to spotlight contemporary expression and self-belief, on the field and beyond it, as women’s cricket continues its rapid rise.
The partnership will roll out through an integrated digital and social campaign featuring Smriti Mandhana, Shreyanka Patil and Lauren Bell. The messaging positions jewellery as an extension of personal style and confidence, drawing a deliberate parallel between elite sport and modern elegance.
The tie-up goes beyond branding. Fans can expect curated engagement through the season, including meet-and-greets with players, access to match tickets and select on-ground experiences designed to tighten the bond between team and supporters.
Ramesh Kalyanaraman, executive director at Kalyan Jewellers, said the RCB Women’s team reflected values central to the brand. “They stand for resilience, ambition and self-belief. As official style partners, we are proud to celebrate athletes who project confidence and purpose, while mirroring the growing influence of women’s sport in India.”
Rajesh Menon, coo at Royal Challengers Bengaluru, said the partnership captured the changing face of the women’s game. “Excellence in sport today sits alongside individuality and confidence. We look forward to building a strong and meaningful association this season.”
RCB Women enter the 2026 campaign as former champions, having lifted the title in 2024. With viewership and fan engagement climbing each season, the league has become a powerful platform for women’s cricket and the brands that want to be part of its momentum.
For Kalyan Jewellers, the alliance sharpens its presence in culturally resonant spaces that celebrate aspiration and the modern Indian woman. For RCB Women, it adds another polish to a team already setting the pace, on style as much as silverware.
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.
