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Sony Max, ESPN air PWL 2 live as Haryana Hammers dominate Mumbai Maharathi
MUMBAI: A dominating performance by Haryana Hammers saw them register their first victory against defending champions Mumbai Maharathi on the opening day of the Pro Wrestling League Season 2 at the K D Jadhav Indoor Stadium here today. Present at the occasion were Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore and WFI president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.
The second season’s 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.
Mumbai captain Erica Wiebe won the toss and blocked the 70kg Men’s category while Haryana chose to block the 48kg Women’s category. The first bout was fought between Rajneesh (Haryana Hammers) and Vikas Kumar (Mumbai Maharathi) in the 65 kg Men’s category. Rajneesh executed some skillful moves as he combined attack with defence cleverly to prevail over Vikas 7-2.
The second bout for the 75 kg Women’s category was won by Mumbai, as they drew level with Haryana. Canadian Erica Wiebe, who won Gold in the 2016 Rio Olympics, led from the front as Haryana’s Kiran proved to be the weaker opponent. Erica won the bout by technical superiority as Kiran failed to score a single point compared to the Canadian’s 16.
Haryana came back strongly in the third bout, as Russian Abdusalam Gadisov employed single leg attack and ankle hold takedowns to effectively score against his opponent, Ukraine’s Pavlo Oliinyk. Haryana secured a 2-1 lead by virtue of this victory.
The fourth bout was contested in the 53 kg Women’s category as grapplers Sofia Mattsson from Sweden and India’s Lalita Sehrawat played an aggressive game. Although Lalita kept searching for points, Sofia who had earned a Bronze in the 2016 Olympics, prevailed over her and eventually won by Pin Fall.
Even as Mumbai conceded a 1-3 lead in the tie, they tried to stage a comeback as Azerbaijan-born Jabrayil Hasanov outclassed his opponent Sumit Sehrawat, clinching the bout in Mumbai’s favour by virtue of technical superiority.
Haryana Hammers took full advantage of the crucial sixth bout as Marwa Amri defeated Mumbai Maharathi’s Sarita 5-0. The Tunisian grappler showed full supremacy on the mat, as her technical acumen proved to be too good for Sarita. The 2016 Rio Olympics Bronze medalist clinched the tie with this victory, as Haryana took an unassailable 4-2 lead.
The final bout of the tie saw some explosive action with Mumbai’s Rahul Aware completely dominating over his opponent Sandeep Tomar from Haryana. Although Sandeep had an early 3-point advantage, Rahul came from behind to display a series of well-executed takedowns to win the bout 14-5. Rahul’s brilliant effort went in vain, as Haryana won the game by a 4-3 margin.
Speaking after the match, a delighted Haryana Hammers Co-Owner Golden Behl said: ” I believe Rahul Aware and Sandeep Tomar was the most exciting match of the days but of course we were looking forward to Sandeep’s win. But in the end, it’s a game and things change within fraction of seconds. We came with a target of 5-2 win but we are surely not disappointed with a 4-3 victory on the first day of PWL.”
Haryana Hammers player Abdusalam Gadisov said: “I believe our team is a great mix of some great Indian and international wrestlers and the performance on the first day has been great so far. Look forward to some more exciting matches in the coming days.
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.
