News Headline
PadelPark India takes global serve with Hexagon Cup stake
MUMBAI: PadelPark India has stepped beyond home courts and onto the global centre court with an equity investment in Hexagon Cup Holdings, the company behind the high-profile Hexagon Cup and its next avatar, the Hexagon World Series.
The investment is part of an international financing round and marks PadelPark India’s formal entry into the global professional padel ecosystem. More than a financial play, it positions the Indian firm as a stakeholder in shaping how elite padel evolves worldwide.
Until now, PadelPark India has focused on building the sport domestically. This move signals a shift in gears. By investing at the holding company level, the brand gains a seat at the table as padel enters a new phase defined by scale, structure and international alignment.
Hexagon Cup Holdings is expanding its flagship tournament into the Hexagon World Series, a mixed-gender, team-based competition featuring the world’s best players. The series will host multiple events each year in iconic global cities, with equal prize money and a format designed to broaden the sport’s appeal.
The timing could not be better for India. Padel is picking up pace across major metros, fuelled by growing participation, new facilities and rising private investment. PadelPark India’s global involvement strengthens its ambition to act as a bridge between India and the international padel circuit, opening doors for collaboration, talent exchange and commercial growth.
PadelPark India co-founder Nikhil Sachdev said the investment reflects a long-term commitment. “Being involved at the holding company level allows us to contribute meaningfully as the sport evolves globally. The Hexagon World Series represents a new chapter for professional padel, and this is an important step in connecting India’s fast-growing padel ecosystem with the global competitive pyramid.”
As padel’s popularity gathers pace worldwide, PadelPark India’s move signals clear intent. India does not just want to join the rally. It wants a hand on the racquet shaping the next phase of the game.
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.
