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Pro Panja League to be broadcast in USA on Willow TV
Mumbai: Pro Panja League (PPL) on Friday announced its renewed partnership with Willow TV, the leading broadcaster of cricket and combat sports in the United States. This partnership aims to bring the exhilarating professional arm wrestling from India to the US, where the game is quite popular and at the same time, strengthen the fan base globally.
Last year, Willow TV telecast the Ranking Tournament across the USA and Canada, which was held in Gwalior in July 2022. This year, the matches will be telecast live from (9:30 EST) onwards. Fans can look forward to witnessing the strength, endurance, and intense competition that makes the Pro Panja League one of the most exciting and rapidly growing sports leagues in the world.
“We are elated to join hands with Willow TV once again and continue our mission of promoting arm wrestling as a competitive sport. Willow TV has a fantastic track record of delivering high-quality sports content to fans, and we believe this partnership will play an important role in expanding the reach of Pro Panja League in the United States,” said Pro Panja League, co-founder Parvin Dabas.
Willow TV Chief Operating Officer Todd Myers said, “Willow TV has been entertaining sports fans for two decades in North America. We are thrilled to add the Pro Panja League to our list of world-class events. The PPL is going to be non-stop action which will keep Willow subscribers on the edge of their seats”.
Willow TV is the only 24×7 live cricket channel in the USA, with several hundred days of live cricket covered annually, and is also home to the Indian Premier League in the region. Willow has exclusive agreements to be the official broadcaster of The International Cricket Council (ICC), Indian Premier League (IPL), England Cricket Board, Cricket Australia, Cricket South Africa, West Indies Cricket Board, Sri Lanka Cricket, Bangladesh Cricket Board, Pakistan Cricket Board, Zimbabwe Cricket, Pakistan Super League and others.
Pro Panja League season one will take place between 28 July 2023 and 13 August 2023 and will be broadcast LIVE on Sony Ten 3 SD and Sony Ten 3 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.
