News Headline
World Kabaddi League features in top sporting properties in inaugural year
MUMBAI: After its initial season, the Wave World Kabaddi League (WKL) attracted an aggregate reach of just over 101 million individuals as per TAM India in its very first edition placing it among the top five sporting properties in India, claim the organisers.
This is both in terms of viewers as well as visibility to sponsoring brands. The league, which was telecast live on Sony Six, also garnered 1.5 million views on YouTube with 60 per cent of the views coming in from the diaspora in United States, Canada, UK and as far as Italy. Additionally an estimated 50 million reach was acquired through international feed in Pakistan, Middle East, Europe, US and Canada.
WKL CEO Raman Raheja said, “We are overjoyed with the response to the WKL in its very first year. The idea of keeping the latter and final parts of the WKL in India, where the sport is extremely popular, also paid rich dividends in terms of TV exposure for the sponsors. We are now looking to a bigger event in the second edition.”
Repucom, a research company that measures ROI for all sports across the world, gave an interesting comparison of WKL’s sponsored property exposure on TV as compared to other sports. Repucom India analyzed that the 86 matches played during the first season garnered as many as 143 hours of screen exposure, which translated into an hour and 40 minutes of exposure per match.
The event as a whole received media value worth Rs 301,02,60,323 for 86 matches with an average worth of Rs 3,50,03,027 per match. Wave Infratech’s media value was put at Rs 135,90,62,603 for all the matches at an average Rs 1,58,03,054 per match.
Title sponsors, Wave Infratech, earned maximum visibility and ROI with 45 per cent of share compared to all the other sponsors exhibited during the event. Among other main properties, the static board earned 37 hours on screen exposure (18 per cent share compared to other sponsors) and the Jersey front was the second leading property with 22 hours on screen exposure (19 per cent share compared to other sponsors).
Repucom South Asia/India director and senior vice president- Joseph Eapen said, “We recommend that teams acquire more sponsors on the team apparels like jersey front, jersey back, jersey side, chest logo and trousers to cash the exposures and value from apparels.”
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.
