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Wave World Kabaddi League claims better TV ratings than HIL and IBL
MUMBAI: It has been just a month since its inaugural season, but organisers of the Wave World Kabaddi League (WKL) have claimed that it has achieved better television ratings than the Hockey India League.
A month since its launch, the League has attained an all-India rating of 0.05 average rating points, as compared to 0.03 for HIL’s last edition and 0.028 for Indian Badminton League’ s last edition.
In a statement WKL organisers said, “After four weeks and 16 matches as of last weekend, the Wave WKL has already begun competing favourably with the ratings achieved by the Indian Badminton League and the Hockey India League and is emerging as second only to cricket.”
The ratings in the Hindi Speaking Market (HSM) are also quite similar with the international league managing to grab greater attention of the TV viewers. In the Punjab-Haryana-Chandigarh-Himachal market, where Kabaddi is most popular, the margin of difference is greater with WKL managing a rating of 0.07 as compared to 0.03 of HIL and IBL.
In an interview with indiantelevison.com, Sony Six business head Prasana Krishnan had said that the League would be popular in the northern belt of India especially in UP and Punjab where the circular styled format of the game is more prevalent. The League is being broadcast on Sony Six.
“In terms of sheer viewership numbers, Wave WKL has managed to get to approximately 16.3 million viewers and of these 11.4 million are in Hindi speaking markets and almost 2.6 million in the Punjab-Haryana-Chandigarh-Himachal market,” the organisers stated.
The WKL follows a travelling format similar to Formula 1 and is being played at 15 international venues with 86 matches over a four month long period.
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.
