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Pro Wrestling League rallies on North India viewership
MUMBAI: The third edition of the Pro Wrestling League (PWL) proved to be a hit among the younger viewers while attracting audiences of all age groups. Moreover, 77 per cent of the viewership came from North India for the season.
The season saw top wrestlers from 17 countries participate in the league. It also provided a great platform for India’s young and talented players to compete, and learn from, in close quarters with Olympic and world champions. The league was on air from 9 January till 26 January 2018.
According to Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) all India data, the league garnered a total of 66,444 impressions (000s) sum, out of which 30 per cent of the viewership, or 20,125 impressions (000s) sum, was contributed by Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand. North India contributed to 77 per cent of the total viewership. Viewers under 30 made up 55 per cent of the viewership.
Speaking about the impressive television numbers, ProSportify founder and promoter Kartikeya Sharma said, “Sports like wrestling have not got the attention that mainstream sports get in India. The latest BARC India ratings are proof that there is huge viewership for such sports, especially wrestling, if they are packaged properly.”
The league was watched by 45 per cent female fans. The age group of 15-21 years contributed to 20 per cent of the total viewership.
All the Sony Pictures Network channels, which telecast the 18-day league, featuring over 24 Olympians, 10 Rio Olympic medallists, 14 world champions and six continental champions, witnessed exponential growth in viewership during the tournament. Sony Wah, Sony ESPN and ESPN HD aired the league live.
“Even more heartening for us sports lovers is that people are enthusiastically watching other sports, too, like wrestling, kabaddi, badminton and football. It is not just about cricket any longer in the country and that is very significant as it will eventually help India become a multi-sport viewing nation,” said Sharma.
“This is a welcome change and we feel proud to be a part of the revolution to create space for sports other than cricket. We are particularly delighted to see a surge of interest among urban and new viewers, adding substantially to the rural and existing fans,” he added.
India is making the transition from being a single-sport nation to a multi-sport-viewing nation as domestic leagues of sports such as wrestling, kabaddi, badminton and football are creating their own fan base.
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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.
