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Pickle and roll as Eurosport India serves up a new sport
MUMBAI: From baseline battles to kitchen-line skirmishes, a new racket sport is bouncing onto Indian screens. Warner Bros. Discovery has announced that its premium sports channel Eurosport India will add pickleball to its broadcast roster from 2026, signalling a clear bet on one of the world’s fastest-growing sports.
The move kicks off with exclusive coverage of World Pickleball League Season 2, set to run from 24 January to 8 February 2026 at Jio World Garden in Mumbai. The tournament is expected to draw top international players, reflecting pickleball’s rapid rise from backyard curiosity to competitive global circuit.
For Eurosport India, the addition is less a novelty and more a strategic play. The channel has increasingly positioned itself as a home for emerging global sports, pairing premium production with long-term storytelling rather than one-off event drops. Pickleball, with its quick rallies, accessible format and growing fan base, fits neatly into that vision.
Warner Bros. Discovery SVP and managing director for India and South Asia Arjun Nohwar said the sport’s inclusion extends the network’s effort to build the “next generation” of sports in India, with sustained visibility and consistent coverage at its core.
From the league’s perspective, the partnership marks another step in rapid expansion. WPBL Season 2 will feature players from 18 nations, selected from registrations spanning more than 25 countries, alongside an expanded slate of live matches and a sharper focus on sportainment. World Pickleball League founder and CEO Gaurav Natekar described the broadcast tie-up as a natural progression that opens the league to millions of new viewers.
With Mumbai hosting the action and Eurosport India beaming it nationwide, pickleball’s Indian innings is about to begin. For viewers, it’s a fresh sport with familiar broadcast polish; for the market, another sign that new-age sports are no longer fringe acts, but ready for centre court.
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.
