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Pro Panja League and Sony Sports Network launch ‘Laga Panja’ campaign to promote ‘Bharat Ka Khel’
Mumbai: Ahead of the players’ draft set to take place on 11 July in New Delhi for the inaugural season, Pro Panja League, Asia’s biggest arm-wrestling promotion, in partnership with Sony Sports Network launched the #LagaPanja campaign to promote ‘Bharat Ka Khel’. The thrilling campaign films, created by Pro Panja co-founders Parvin Dabas and Preeti Jhangiani, are being telecast on Sony Sports Network to excite viewers for the upcoming action-packed inaugural season.
Panja (or armwrestling) is #BharatKaKhel in its true sense, having its reach across metropolitan as well as tier-two and tier-three cities. The hashtag #LagaPanja has been designed as a call for Indian sports fans to challenge their friends, family members, colleagues on the table. The campaign films promoting #BharatkaKhel aims to evoke emotions of passion, patriotism, and nostalgia, while also providing viewers with a glimpse of the action-packed competition in store.
Pro Panja League, which will be hosted at the IGI Stadium in New Delhi between July 28 and August 13, has already captured the attention of audiences with its unique format. Six teams of 30 players each will compete across 10 weight divisions comprising of men’s, women’s and physically challenged categories. The first two teams – Mumbai Muscle owned by Mr. Punit Balan, and Kiraak Hyderabad owned by Mr. Gautam Reddy – have already been announced.
Speaking on the campaign on Sony Sports Network, Dabas said, “Panja is the only combat sport that can work for the masses in India as it is both family friendly and entertaining. It is also sponsor friendly because it does not require hefty spending on infrastructure. All you need is a table. The audience is already familiar with the sport and hence, they will not only get to view professional armwrestling for the first time, but will also be able to issue #LagaPanja challenges at home, schools or offices and directly engage with the sport.”
Pro Panja League, has taken a unique approach to develop the market before the inaugural season and has hosted several promotional shows and Ranking Tournaments across India since its inception in 2020. With shows across Gwalior Fort, Gateway of India, Mumbai, and Majestic Pride Casino Boat in Goa, Pro Panja League has already garnered over 250 million social media views, which is a clear indication that it a promising prospect for both advertisers & consumers.
Pro Panja League Season 1 will take place between 28 July 2023 and 13 August 2023 and will be broadcast LIVE on Sony Ten 1 SD and Sony Ten 1 HD channels.
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.
