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Sports Minister lauds b’casters, other stakeholders in promoting sports
NEW DELHI: India’s Sports Minister Vijay Goel said on Wednesday that digital media broadcasting will play a critical role in bringing about change in sports broadcasting in India but broadcasters must also focus on how sports as a product is delivered to audiences in rural areas so as to popularise the culture of sports.
Addressing the CII Big Picture Summit 2016 here, he said increasing penetration of internet, mobile devices and cheaper data services, especially in rural areas, will prove a game changer in this direction.
Interacting with the panellists on a session on `Sports Broadcasting in India: A Game Changer’, which meandered most of its time period all over the place despite having good representation from various segments of sports broadcasting and marketing, the Sports Minister said media has helped promote sports in the country and has also given a fillip to less popular sports like kabaddi.
A majority of sports leagues have been made possible, including football, kabaddi, wrestling, hockey, tennis and badminton, by persistent efforts by various stakeholders, leading to cascading effects on tourism and infrastructure sectors, Goel, added.
Pointing out that slick packaging of the sports leagues as entertainment by TV channels in India has been a game changer, the Minister said, “This is reflected in more than 450 million viewers of Indian Super League (football) with the most interesting revelation being the Pro Kabaddi League with a viewership of more than 500 million.”
To make sports more catchy and interesting for an average man, some games can also learn few tricks from cricket’s bosses who invented shorter formats of the game to keep the viewer and on-field spectators hooked on, while creating a new business model.
However, the Minister did admit that the sports as a culture is yet to percolate down to every Indian home and to rectify it an all out effort has to be made not only by the government, but also the people of the country.
“Playgrounds in schools and residential areas are being trimmed because of scarce availability of land and such actions don’t help,” Goel said, adding the government is committed to working towards building a culture of sports and improving infrastructure but all stakeholders, including corporate and sponsors, must work towards this common objective.
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.
