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Pakistan announces its Wave WKL team ‘Lahore Lions’
MUMBAI: After cricket, it’s Kabaddi’s turn to help boost diplomatic ties between India and Pakistan. The government of Punjab (Pakistan) under the leadership of Chief Minister Mian Mohammed Shabaaz Sharif have come forward and have consented to participate in the upcoming Wave World Kabaddi League.
The official team will be called Lahore Lions and will comprise national players like Babar Waseem, Lala Abaidulla, Shafiq Ahmad Chisti and Akmal Shazad Dogar. While the team will be managed and supervised by Punjab (Pakistan) directorate general of sports, the venture will be headed and monitored by Punjab (Pakistan) DG sports Usman Anwar.
The league matches will start from 9 August and Lahore Lions will play its first match against Vancouver Lions on 10 August in London. Commenting on the association, Lahore Lions manager Mohd. Waqas said, “Kabaddi is a popular sport in Pakistan. We are very elated to announce our representation in Wave WKL. It will be a proud moment for us to represent our country in the league across the globe. I wish the team stupendous success in the league.”
Wave WKL senior VP and Punjab Kabaddi Association president Sikander Singh Maluka said, “We welcome this initiative of Pakistan and thank them for their continued support. This move by the government of Punjab in Pakistan to participate in this mega event through their franchise Lahore Lions will make the matches more exciting and fun-filled. I am sure that it will be a great, entertaining league for everyone to watch.”
The official media launch of Lahore Lions is expected to happen on 7 August 2014 at the Punjab CM’s secretariat at Lahore. Wave WKL chief advisor Puneet Singh Chandhok confirmed the same and said, “The officials of both sides are expected to be a part of this launch including Pakistan Punjab CM Shahbaaz Sharif, chairperson Public Youth affairs Authority Pakistan, Rana Masood, Sports Minister, Punjab (Pakistan) and Sikander Singh Maluka. Lahore Lions is also expected to host the sports weekend at Punjab stadium, Lahore wherein all the other Kabaddi teams will also play against each other.
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.
