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Tusshar Kapoor joins Gazab Ghaziabad as co-owner in UP Kabaddi League
NATIONAL: Gazab Ghaziabad, the newest entrant in the Uttar Pradesh Kabaddi League, has signed up actor Tusshar Kapoor as co-owner as it gears up for its debut season. The franchise is owned by Lakhsya Sharma and Deepak Singh.
Kapoor’s move stems from his interest in backing homegrown sport and strengthening the kabaddi ecosystem across Uttar Pradesh. His presence, the team said, adds a steady voice to its leadership as it shapes its early identity.
“I’m excited to join Gazab Ghaziabad as co-owner,” Kapoor said. “Kabaddi continues to grow across the country, and I’m happy to be part of it. My best wishes to Sambhav and the UPKL team for the upcoming season.”
Team owners Sharma and Singh said Kapoor arrives at a formative moment for the franchise. His clarity and grounded approach, they added, would help guide players and staff as the squad is built from scratch.
At the league level, SJ Uplift Kabaddi chief executive Aishwarya Gautam, said ownership participation is key to UPKL’s long-term structure. Kapoor’s involvement, she said, reflects rising interest from those seeking to support the sport meaningfully.
Chief operating officer Simran Malik, said every new franchise faces a learning curve and that Kapoor gives Gazab Ghaziabad an additional layer of support as it navigates its first season.
UPKL, owned by SJ Uplift Kabaddi, has positioned itself as one of India’s strongest state leagues. Season two opens on December 24 at Noida Indoor Stadium under a multi-year broadcast deal with Zee Sports.
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.
