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UST flags off Trivandrum Marathon 2025 with training runs and big race on 12 October
MUMBAI: When the going gets tough, the tough start training early. Kerala’s capital is lacing up again as the UST Trivandrum Marathon returns for its second edition on Sunday, 12 October 2025. Promising high-octane footwork and community spirit, the marathon is expected to see more than 10,000 participants across categories.
Organised by UST, the global digital transformation firm, in partnership with NEB Sports, the 2025 edition will once again start from the UST Campus in Thiruvananthapuram. Just like last year, the event will feature a Full Marathon, Half Marathon, 10K Run and a 5K Fun Run—ensuring there’s a lane for every level of enthusiasm.
To get the runners race-ready, three official training runs will begin with the first warm-up sprint on Sunday, 22 June. UST Campus will host the kick-off training session, and participants will receive T-shirts, route support and breakfast to keep energy levels and morale high.
“I’m really delighted that UST is hosting Thiruvananthapuram’s largest marathon for the second year in a row. Aligned to our organisation’s mission of Transforming Lives, this marathon is designed to uphold our community’s wellness and health. This year, we aspire to make it larger than the previous edition, with advanced training runs, support initiatives and expert advice. With more than 10,000 runners participating, we are committed to making the UST Trivandrum Marathon 2025 a memorable event”, said UST COO Alexander Varghese.
NEB Sports CMD Nagaraj Adiga added, “As in the first edition of the UST Trivandrum Marathon, we are excited to be joining hands with UST for the mega event this year. With the date now set for the training runs and the main event, we are excited to host the maximum number of runners from across the country”.
Those wishing to participate can register at bit.ly/3ZnARUv and pick their distance. With just weeks to go until the first training run, the countdown to Kerala’s biggest marathon has officially begun.
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.
