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PWL: All eyes on Geeta-Marwa, Sandeep-Amit bouts
MUMBAI: After a solid start to the season, reigning defending champions Mumbai Maharathis in the inaugural match, the Haryana Hammers are upbeat for their next encounter against UP Dangal in the second season of Patanjali Powervita Pro Wrestling League (PWL) on Wednesday.
It won’t be an easy affair for them, as the star-studded UP team includes Commonwealth gold medallist Geeta Phogat, Babita Kumari, Maria Mamashuk and marquee player Elitsa Yankova along with Amit Dahiya.
The star encounters of the night will be the fights between Geeta and Marwa Amri, along with Sandeep Tomar and Amit Dahiya. On the other hand, Babita will be eager to repeat her performance same as in season-1, where she outshone World No 3 Ukraine grappler Tatyana Kit, who was representing Haryana then.
After the release of Bollywood film – Dangal, all eyes are set on Geeta and Babita and they are expected to prove that they still have the same energy and aggression, which was portrayed in the film.
Marwa Amri is in good form after beating Sarita in the first bout, and it will be a close battle when she will take on Geeta on the mat. The way Geeta had brought down World champion Oksana Herhel of Ukraine in the previous season, nothing is impossible for the Dhaakad girl.
Haryana squad will also have Kiran (75kg), Indu Choudhary (48kg) and Sumit (74kg) take the mat but it all depends on the result between Andrey Kviatkovski and Rajneesh in men’s 65kg weight category.
“Elitsa is world renowned player and has acclaimed various accolades, whereas we have a huge respect and feel proud for what Geeta has done till now. But having them both makes our team more balanced now,” said Sunny Katyal, UP Dangal team.
Rio Olympics medallist Elitsa Yankova (48kg) and World championship silver medallist Abdusalam Gadisov are marquee players for UP and Haryana respectively.
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.
