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Blind women’s cricket team tops honours at Zee Samvad 2026
MUMBAI: India’s blind women’s cricket team emerged as the standout honouree at the fourth edition of the Zee Samvad with Real Heroes 2026, held on 6 February at the Fairmont in Mumbai.
Organised by Zee Media Corporation Limited, the event sought to recognise sporting excellence rooted in resilience rather than medals alone. The blind women’s team was honoured for its contribution to grassroots sport and its role in pushing inclusion into corners of Indian athletics that often go unnoticed.
The recognition was presented by yoga guru and social reformer Baba Ramdev, who acknowledged the team’s perseverance and growing influence in advancing inclusive sport. The honour underlined how women-led initiatives from outside India’s sporting mainstream are quietly reshaping participation and confidence at the community level.
Team members honoured included Simu Das, Anu Kumari, Jamuna Rani Tudu, Anekha Devi, Basanti Hansdah, Simranjeet Kour, Sunita Sarathe, Parbati Marndi, Deepika T C, Phula Soren, Ganga S Kadam, Kavya N R, Sushma Patel, Durga Yevle and Shika Shetty. Several players spoke about navigating disability, limited resources and social constraints and how cricket became a route to independence, discipline and collective strength.
The evening also widened its lens beyond the pitch. Mountaineer Saanvi Sood was recognised for her endurance-led achievements, symbolising India’s growing appetite for adventure sport. Judoka Yogita Mandavi was honoured for her consistency and competitive excellence, reflecting the grind behind elite-level performance.
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.
