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Pro-wrestling: SonyLiv, Max & ESPN to beam live from 2-19 Jan
MUMBAI: 2017 is set to start with a bang for Indian sports audiences. After the Aircel Chennai Open and Super Fight League already lined up, Sony Pictures Network India (SPNI) is all set to broadcast the second season of the Pro Wrestling League (PWL), starting from the 02 January. The event is set to take place at the KD Jadhav Indoor Stadium in New Delhi and will be beamed live on Sony Max, Sony ESPN channels and the digital sibling, SonyLiv.
For fans of wrestling, one of the main attractions of the second edition of PWL is the impressive line-up of home-grown talent that includes Olympic Bronze medallist, Sakshi Malik, the Phogat sisters: Geeta, Ritu Sangeeta and Babita Kumari, Bajrang Punia, as well as Sandeep Tomar to name a few. In addition to this, some of the top International wrestlers like Olympic Gold medallist Erica Wiebe, Odunayo Folasade, Sofia Mattsson, Togrul Asgarov and Vladimir Khinchegashvili will also be seen battling it out in their respective weight categories.
This season PWL will have six teams – Jaipur Ninjas, Delhi Sultans, Mumbai Maharathi, CDR Punjab Royals, Haryana Hammers and UP Dangal, which is making its debut this season.
With the staggering success of the recently released movie Dangal, which chronicles the journey of the Phogat sisters, this season of the PWL has already generated high levels of interest. 2017 is definitely going to begin with a bang with this high octane season of PWL as wrestling fans all over India eagerly wait for what is expected to be one of the biggest wrestling events to watch out for.
The event is scheduled from 02 January with the final on 19 January. The first season of the league was a success in terms of viewership, and the promoters will be hoping to encash on the ever-rising popularity of the sport. The first season was won by Revanta Mumbai Garuda.
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.
