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Pro Kabaddi League season 8 to begin in December
Mumbai: Mashal Sports plans to commence the eighth season of vivo Pro Kabaddi League in December 2021.
The company has announced that the player auction for the latest season will take place between 29 and 31 August. The three-day auction process in Mumbai will be telecast on the Star Sports Network.
This player auction will see domestic, overseas, and new young players (NYPs) divided into four Categories: Category A, B, C and D. Within each category, the players will be further subdivided as ‘All-Rounders’, ‘Defenders’ and ‘Raiders’. Base prices for each of the categories are Category A – Rs 30 Lakh, Category B – Rs 20 Lakh, Category C –Rs 10 lakh, Category D – Rs 6 lakh.
The total salary purse applicable to each franchisee for its squad for season eight is Rs 4.4 crore. The player pool has been expanded to 500+ athletes including all squad players from PKL season six and seven, as well as all players who have represented the top eight ranked teams of the Amateur Kabaddi Federation of India’s (AKFI) senior men’s national Kabaddi championships of 2020 and 2021 amongst others.
Before going into the auction, the PKL teams are also expected to exercise their choice of retention of PKL season seven squads as per the league policies. For each PKL season, teams are allowed to retain up to six players under the elite retained players category and up to six NYPs under stipulated conditions. Of the 500+ players from the player pool, players who are not retained by the franchisees will go under the hammer which will be broadcast live.
“PKL season eight, will be conducted as per strict government rules and safety protocols with the support and cooperation of all our stakeholders and associates in the national kabaddi ecosystem under the AKFI”, said Mashaal Sports, chief executive officer and PKL, league commissioner, Anupam Goswami.
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.
