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Virat Kohli picks stake in Pro Wrestling League’s Bengaluru Yodhas
MUMBAI: Cricketer Virat Kohli has picked up a stake in the JSW Group-owned Pro Wrestling League franchise Bengaluru Yodhas.
As co-owner of the team, Kohli who led the Indian team to a 3-0 Test series victory over South Africa recently, is all set to take it #FromBatToMat with this association with the Bengaluru franchise.
The Pro Wrestling League, whose inaugural edition kicked off today (10 December) in New Delhi’s KD Jadhav stadium, pits six city-based franchises against one another in one of the richest freestyle wrestling tournaments in the world. Kohli’s Bengaluru Yodhas will face Rohit Sharma’s UP Warriors in their opening fixture on, where the world will see the two cricketers as owners and in different dug outs.
Kohli said that when he was asked to consider the idea of co-owning the Bengaluru Yodhas , he was delighted to step into the mat and jump at the opportunity. “I was thrilled on hearing about the Pro Wrestling League and JSW Bengaluru Yodhas. I am no stranger to the city of Bangalore and it is wonderful that I can extend my association by way of the Yodhas,” he said.
The Pro Wrestling League believes Kohli will give the sport the kind of fillip it requires. With words of encouragement for his new team, the Test Captain was quick to show his faith in the team, said, “I am confident that the Yodhas will be a vital cog in the scheme of things. I am excited and cannot wait to follow all the action on the mat.”
JSW Sports director Parth Jindal said that Kohli’s association with Bengaluru Yodhas was exactly the kind of impetus that the sport needed. “Virat is currently one of the biggest names in Indian sport and one of Bengaluru’s favourite athletes. We are delighted to welcome him on-board as a co-owner of the Yodhas. Virat’s intensity and passion for sport has always been his hallmark and I am sure the same determination will be transferred to the Yodhas as we look forward to a successful first season in the Pro Wrestling League,” he said.
The Bengaluru Yodhas are captained by 74 kg wrestler Narsingh Yadav, India’s sole medallist at the 2015 World Wrestling Championship. Giving Narsingh company are Sandeep Tomar, Bajrang Punia, Ukraine’s Pavlo Oliiynik and Georgia’s Davit Modzmanashvili in the men’s section. Five-time World Championship medallist Yuliya Ratkevich of Azerbaijan is the Yodhas’ star in the women’s draw. She is joined by USA’s Alyssa Lampe, India’s Lalita Sehrawat and Navjot Kaur.
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.
