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Rio medalists Sakshi Malik, Marwa Amri bout keenly awaited
MUMBAI: Colors Delhi Sultans will face Haryana Hammers in the KD Jadhav Indoor Stadium, in New Delhi on Wednesday.
However, in the second season of Patanjali Powervita Pro Wrestling League encounter, all eyes will be set on the fight between Sakshi Malik and Marwa Amri in the 58 kg category bout. Live telecast can be seen on Sony Max and Sony ESPN. You can catch the online streaming of the event on the Sony website as well.
While Sakshi became the first Indian women wrestler to win an Olympic medal, Marwa created history as she was first women medalist from her country Tunisia. It makes the tussle between two wrestling icons more interesting.
Both grapplers are yet unbeaten in the league. However, being a marquee player Sakshi has got more opportunities and playing like a champion she never let her opponents to score a point in her both bouts. First she defeated Jaipur Ninja’s Pooja Dhanda and later outmuscled national champion Manju. On the other hand, Marwa has got just one bout, in which he has performed impressively.
Meanwhile, Sakshi’s fiancé Satyavart Kadian, who has registered a massive 14-4 win over Krishan Kumar of NCR Punjab Royals, will face a tough challenge from former world champion Abdusalam Gladisov.
Welcoming news for Delhi is that their Mongolian grappler Erdenebat Bekhbayar in 57kg and Indian grappler Bajrang Punia in 65kg are now completely fit and will be crucial against Haryana. Even in 74kg weight category, Praveen Rana has better record than his counterpart Sumit Sehrawat.
Amongst women, Rio Olympic silver medalist Mariya Stadnik of Azerbaijan and Alina Makhynia of Ukraine possess a good challenge against their weaker opponents. Mariya will face Indu Choudhary while Alina will take on Kiran in 75kg category.
The challenging bout will be in 53kg category between Sofia Mattsson and Sangeeta Phogat, along with bout between World champion Magomed Kurbanaliev and David Tlashadze of Georgia in 70kg.
Delhi team co-owner Anurag Batra and Gaur Gupta are confident about Sakshi’s win. “She is a champion. She has not just raised India’s reputation at the international level but has also given a new direction to women in her country to follow their dreams,” they said.
On the other Haryana team’s co-owner is of opinion that their team is in full swing and no one can stop them now. “We have a current world champion, a former world champion, an Olympic silver medalist and one bronze medalist. We are the title contenders for sure,” he said.
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.
