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vivo Pro Kabaddi League launches PKL unplugged
Mumbai: Pro Kabaddi League has decided to take fan engagement to the next level during the ongoing vivo PKL Season 9.
With this, kabaddi lovers will get a special insight into the lives and minds of their favourite vivo PKL stars off the mat in the League’s new digital property – vivo PKL Unplugged.
Exclusively available on the vivo PKL app and the website, vivo PKL unplugged will consist of several exciting segments such as the Ultimate Panga Fan, Mazedaar Panga, Coach ki Soch and Rapid Fire Raid.
The Ultimate Panga Fan series will provide a never-before opportunity for kabaddi fans to express their love for their favourite teams and players, while, the stars will also be seen entertaining the fans through trending challenges and snappy rapid fires. In addition, kabaddi fans will get a chance to hear from all 12 Head Coaches about the nitty-gritties of coaching and their side of the story.
Speaking about the launch of PKL Unplugged, Vivo Pro Kabaddi League, league commissioner and Mashal Sports head sports leagues Anupam Goswami said, “With increasing ascriptive stature of PKL athletes, we realise that fans want to see and engage with their PKL heroes beyond the mat as well. That’s why vivo PKL Unplugged is a special initiative for us as this will give the fans a brilliant chance to get to know the persona behind the superstars that they are. This is a new journey for us and we will keep looking to come up with out-of-the-box initiatives for our fans in the future.”
The ongoing Season 9 of the vivo Pro Kabaddi League was launched at the Shree Kanteerava Indoor Stadium, Bengaluru on 7 October and was conducted there till 26 October, after which the League moved to the Shree Shivchhatrapati Sports Complex, Balewadi, Pune on 28 October. The third leg of the tournament will be held at the Gachibowli Indoor Stadium, Hyderabad from 18 November to 10 December before the playoffs and the final.
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.
