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UPKL Season 2 returns on Zee channels and Zee5 from 24 December
MUMBAI: The Uttar Pradesh Kabaddi League is ready for a spirited comeback as Season 2 goes live on Zee Bollywood, &Pictures HD and Anmol Cinema 2, along with streaming on Zee5. From 24 December, viewers across India can settle in for high-energy matches, Hindi commentary and the kind of last-second thrills that keep kabaddi fans glued to the screen.
Zee has long used its extensive broadcast network to champion local sports, and its association with UPKL aims to elevate the league into one of the country’s most influential state-level properties. With a loyal fanbase, rising viewership and growing advertiser interest, UPKL has become a strong platform for brands keen to tap into kabaddi’s soaring popularity. The league is promoted by its brand ambassador, star raider Rahul Chaudhari, and continues to position itself as one of the biggest homegrown leagues in India.
Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited business head – sports Bavesh Janavlekar, said the partnership aligns with Zee’s focus on celebrating indigenous sports. Kabaddi, he noted, holds a deep emotional place in Indian households, making UPKL a natural fit for the network’s expanding sports portfolio. He added that the league’s diverse and highly engaged audience offers strong value for advertisers as UPKL heads into a bigger second season.
SJ Uplift Kabaddi founder and director Sambhav Jain, highlighted the significance of wider distribution. With matches airing daily between 5 p.m. and 10 p.m., he said fans across regions and age groups will now enjoy easier access to the action on both TV and OTT. The expanded reach is expected to boost visibility and bring more households into the kabaddi fold.
Season 2 packs in 69 matches across 18 days, complete with Hindi commentary to bring fans closer to every raid and tackle. With its expanded platform and festive-season timing, UPKL is poised to deliver a lively dose of kabaddi entertainment to audiences nationwide.
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.
